World Environment Day: PM Modi launches 2 schemes for wetland, mangrove conservation
India accounts for about 3% of South Asia’s mangrove population. The country currently has 75 Ramsar sites that are wetlands of international importance and have been designated under the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
PremiumNew Delhi: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched two schemes--Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes)--aimed at reviving the country's wetlands and mangroves.
"In the last nine years, the number of wetlands and Ramsar sites in India has increased almost three times as compared to earlier," Modi said while launching the schemes to further the campaign of Green Future, Green Economy.
India currently has 75 Ramsar sites that are wetlands of international importance and have been designated under the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The country also accounts for about 3% of South Asia’s mangrove population. Apart from the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Andamans region, the Kachchh and Jamnagar areas in Gujarat have substantial mangrove cover.
Underlining India's efforts to balance present requirements and future vision, PM Modi said that necessary help has been provided to the poorest of the poor while huge steps have been taken keeping in mind the energy needs of the future. “During the last nine years, India has made an unprecedented focus on green and clean energy. India started Mission Green Hydrogen and took major steps towards natural farming to save soil and water from chemical fertilizers."
The launch of Amrit Dharohar Yojana will ensure the conservation of the existing Ramsar sites through public participation, and these sites will become the centre of eco-tourism and a source of green jobs for thousands of people, the prime minister said.
The MISHTI scheme will help revive and protect the mangrove ecosystem in the country. With this, the mangrove cover will be restored in nine states across the country and help in mitigating the threat to lives and livelihoods in coastal areas from rising sea levels and disasters like cyclones.
While Amrit Dharohar aims to achieve sustainable ecosystem development with the help of local communities over the next three years, MISHTI envisages comprehensively exploring the possible area for development of mangroves covering nearly 540 sq km, spreading across 11 states and two union territories over five years, starting FY24.
The primary objectives of the MISHTI scheme are sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, management practices, conservation measures and resource mobilisation through public-private partnership.
The Centre will cover 80% of the project cost, while state governments will contribute the remaining 20%.
Modi also added that India had started work in 2018 to get rid of single-use plastic. “On one hand, we have banned single-use plastic and on the other hand, plastic waste processing has been made mandatory," he said.
As a result, there has been compulsory recycling of about 3 million tonne of plastic packaging in India, which is 75% of the total annual plastic waste produced in India, and around 10 thousand producers, importers and brands have come under its ambit till date, the PM informed.
Speaking on mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), PM Modi highlighted that the mission was spreading a new consciousness about lifestyle changes to combat climate change.
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