Amrit Dharohar Scheme
News: In the last three decades, 30% of India’s wetlands have disappeared. Mumbai lost the most wetlands overall. Mumbai’s wetlands lost 71% of their area between 1970 and 2014. Ahmedabad lost 57%, Bengaluru 56%, Hyderabad 55%, Delhi 38%, and many other important cities lost much more. Wetlands are disappearing mostly as a result of human activity and unauthorised building. The GoI launched the Amrit Dharohar Scheme to maximise the utilisation of wetlands in cities and to enhance their biodiversity. The Finance Minister revealed the programme during her budget speech.
- The plan will encourage wetlands’ best use in order to preserve them.
- Within the next three years, the plan is to be put into action.
- The plan will assist the local residents generate more revenue while also increasing ecotourism and carbon stocks.
- The Scheme’s Need
- to fulfil the sustainable development goals by 2030. Together with other UN Members, India endorsed these objectives in 2015. The SDG strives to promote prosperity and peace. The Amrit Dharohar programme will assist India in achieving the SDGs.
- Wetlands, according to the GoI, are crucial to maintaining biodiversity. In 2014, there were just 26 Ramsar sites in India. The number was raised to 75. An international agreement to protect wetlands is called the RAMSAR convention.
- It aims to combat wetland degradation, guarantee water availability in wetlands during the appropriate season (for migratory birds), encourage intelligent use of wetlands, and expand the number of wetlands with the designation of “Ramsar site.”