The Chhattisgarh Government needs to implement climate adaptation strategies in wetlands along Mahanadi river catchment areas in the State by 2019.
The Central Government had approved Rs 21.47 crore in 2015-16 for the project and 10.73 crore had been sanctioned, official sources informed.
The project duration is of four years and the Executive entity is. State Centre for Climate Change.
Notably, Chief Minister Raman Singh in December last year had stated that considering the importance of conservation of ponds, the Chhattisgarh Government has constituted a ‘Wetland Authority’.
‘Very soon State's Wetland Policy will be formulated”, he said in his monthly Radio Programme titled ‘Raman Ke Goth’ aired by All India Radio from Raipur.
The CM also praised the efforts and steps taken by the renowned Agriculture Scientist of the State Dr DK Marothiya.
Singh said : “Wetland refers to the land that has remained submerged for a long time due to expansion of ponds.”
The CM said that Dr Marothiya and his team are making dedicated efforts to ensure inclusion of unique aquoues structures such as Ratanpur, Dalpatsagar and Kutumbsar (Bastar) in the world famous 'Ramsar-Site' that provides international recognition to historical places.
He said that Ratanpur has a structure of 160 ponds, for which it can earn the international recognition as 'lake city'.
According to experts, there are only two places across the world with such a structure of ponds, one is in China and another is Ratanpur in Chhattisgarh, Singh said.