Draft Notification Issued for 44 Wetlands in the State | Rajasthan | 23 Mar 2023

Why in News?

Keeping in view the importance of wetlands, on the occasion of World Water Day celebrated on 22 March 2023, a draft notification marking 44 wetlands in different districts of the state has been issued by the Department of Environment and Climate Change as per the provisions of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Key Points

• There are 44 water bodies in the state that have been notified as wetlands. In relation to these wetlands, within 60 days, any person will be able to give his/her suggestions or objections to the Joint Government Secretary, Environment and Climate Change Department. Based on the suggestions and objections received during this period, a final notification will be issued regarding these 44 wetlands.
• Shikhar Aggarwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Water Resources Department, said that along with the GPS details of the wetland boundary and buffer area, a list of prohibited and regulated activities has been attached in the notification.
• Mining work, draining of water for commercial purposes, dumping of waste, industrial activities, poaching, farming, etc. have been prohibited within the limits of wetlands.
• It is known that wetlands are a rich ecosystem not only of animals but also of plants, where useful flora and medicinal plants are also found in abundance in wetlands as wetlands play an important role in their production.
• Wetlands absorb the excess of water during floods so that there is no loss of life and property in human habitation areas. These areas contribute significantly to environmental protection by performing important roles like 'carbon absorption' and 'increase in ground water level'. Wetlands are also very important for the livelihood of the local people.

Second Phase of 'Rajiv Gandhi Jal Sanchay Yojana (RGJSY)' Started | Rajasthan | 23 Mar 2023

Why in News?

On 22 March 2023, Rajasthan's Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ramesh Chand Meena virtually inaugurated the second phase of 'Rajiv Gandhi Jal Sanchay Yojana (RGJSY)' at the state level program organised at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur on World Water Day.

Key Points

• Under the second phase of the Rajiv Gandhi Jal Sanchay Yojana (RGJSY), 2 lakh activities of water storage and conservation with an amount of Rs 2600 crore, will be done in 4600 villages in 349 Panchayat Samitis of 33 districts of the state.
• Minister Ramesh Chand Meena said that the villagers should fix the centre line for the rivers, make efforts for the revival of the rivers that have disappeared, plant more and more trees, use organic fertilisers for farming and cooperate in ensuring access of water to the reservoirs by removing encroachments from the roads.
• He said that the success of the Rajiv Gandhi Jal Sanchay Yojana (RGJSY) would be ensured only when the work being done under it is not only visible on the ground, but also increases the water level of the area. There should be discussion in every Gram Sabha regarding water conservation works and water harvesting works should be decided only after mutual discussion.
• In the programme, Panchayati Raj Minister, along with the launching of the department's YouTube channel, various social media handles, as well as awards for excellent works in the watershed area, were given at the district level, block level, project level and gram panchayat level.
• On this occasion, a short film was screened on the first phase of Rajiv Gandhi Jal Sanchay Yojana and the importance of water catchment works.
• It is noteworthy that 'Rajiv Gandhi Jal Sanchay Yojana' was started on 20 August 2019 to get the state out of drought and famine. Through the scheme, old wells, drains, rivers, reservoirs and canals are being cleaned by preparing an action plan for renovation and increasing their water conservation capacity. In the first phase of the scheme, 4029 villages have been included in 1450-gram panchayats.