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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 208
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026
Protection and Preservation of Wetlands in Assam
208. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of all the existing wetlands across the country, State/UT-wise, particularly in
Assam;
(b) the details of such wetlands that need protection and preservation, State/UT-wise, particularly
in Assam;
(c) whether any steps have been taken towards the protection and preservation of such wetlands;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor; and
(e) whether the Government has any plan for the wetlands to be converted into ecotourism, while
allowing controlled recreational activities like birdwatching and nature photography etc. and if
so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) As per the National Wetland Atlas, 2021 published by Space Applications Centre (SAC),
Ahmedabad, a total of 2,31,195 wetlands (area >= 2.25 ha) have been mapped in the Country. The
State/UT-wise wetland distribution in the country including Assam is at Annexure. MoEF&CC has
been advising and facilitating the State/UT Wetland Authorities in protection and preservation of
these wetlands under the existing regulations including their ground truthing and boundary
demarcation.
(c) to (e) MoEF&CC has taken several steps for protection and preservation of wetlands across the
country, which include, implementation of Ramsar Convention on wetlands, centrally sponsored
scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and
management of wetlands in the country, Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, a dedicated Wetlands Web Portal
(https://indianwetlands.in), Mission Sahbhagita and Save Wetlands Campaign for peoples and
stakeholders’ participation in the wetlands conservation and management, Amrit Dharohar initiative
to promote unique conservation values of Ramsar sites. The NPCA scheme and Amrit Dharohar
promotes eco-tourism in and around the wetlands.
Further, in accordance with “Whole of the Government Approach”, various other
Ministries/Departments of the Government have been playing important role in restoration and
conservation of wetlands. Some such crucial Programmes/Schemes are Repair, Renovation &
Restoration (RRR) of water bodies under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Jal
Shakti Abhiyan, Mission Amrit Sarovar, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (MGNREGS), Atal Bhujal Yojana and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT).Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 208 to be
answered on 20th July 2026 on ‘Protection and Preservation of Wetlands in Assam’
State/UT-wise wetland distribution in India as per SAC Atlas, 2021
Area
S.
State/UT Number Area (ha) (% of
No.
wetland)
1 Andhra Pradesh 24104 1141606 7.14
2 Arunachal Pradesh 1182 151104 0.95
3 Assam 5902 849078 5.31
4 Bihar 4526 374766 2.34
5 Chhattisgarh 11457 342443 2.14
6 Goa 742 24749 0.15
7 Gujarat 17613 3499429 21.9
8 Haryana 1905 33649 0.21
9 Himachal Pradesh 215 94011 0.59
10 Jharkhand 2635 187045 1.17
11 Karnataka 14936 787127 4.93
12 Kerala 1399 158336 0.99
13 Madhya Pradesh 13947 861736 5.39
14 Maharashtra 25935 1152625 7.21
15 Manipur 132 67408 0.42
16 Meghalaya 225 31002 0.19
17 Mizoram 127 19476 0.12
18 Nagaland 148 21118 0.13
19 Odisha 13331 719942 4.5
20 Punjab 1190 47024 0.29
21 Rajasthan 13321 778824 4.87
22 Sikkim 259 7049 0.04
23 Tamil Nadu 26883 925712 5.79
24 Telangana 12338 566680 3.55
25 Tripura 416 18438 0.12
26 Uttar Pradesh 18555 1104562 6.91
27 Uttarakhand 172 112882 0.71
28 West Bengal 12955 1130127 7.07
29 Andaman&Nicobar 2774 143238 0.9
30 Chandigarh 11 336 0
31 Dadra NagarHaveli 12 2063 0.0132 Daman and Diu 59 2728 0.02
33 Delhi 123 2773 0.02
34 Jammu & Kashmir 404 164110 1.03
35 Lakshadweep 50 79716 0.5
36 Ladakh 1073 373049 2.33
37 Puducherry 139 5555 0.03
Total 231195 15981516 100
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