Natural Gas Grid in India

About Natural Gas

• Natural gas is a fossil energy source that formed deep beneath the earth's surface. Natural gas contains many different compounds.
• The largest component of natural gas is methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH4).
• Natural gas also contains smaller amounts of natural gas liquids (NGL, which are also hydrocarbon gas liquids), and nonhydrocarbon gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor. We use natural gas as a fuel and to make materials and chemicals.
• It is found along with other fossil fuels and escapes while drilling underground for petroleum sources. The gas is thus a non-renewable source of energy.

How did Natural Gas form?

• Millions to hundreds of millions of years ago and over long periods of time, the remains of plants and animals (such as diatoms) built up in thick layers on the earth’s surface and ocean floors, sometimes mixed with sand, silt, and calcium carbonate.
• Over time, these layers were buried under sand, silt, and rock. Pressure and heat changed some of this carbon and hydrogen-rich material into coal, some into oil (petroleum), and some into natural gas.

Where is the Natural Gas found?

• In some places, natural gas moved into large cracks and spaces between layers of overlying rock. The natural gas found in these types of formations is sometimes called conventional natural gas.
• In other places, natural gas occurs in the tiny pores (spaces) within some formations of shale, sandstone, and other types of sedimentary rock. This natural gas is referred to as shale gas or tight gas, and it is sometimes called unconventional natural gas.
• Natural gas also occurs with deposits of crude oil, and this natural gas is called associated natural gas. Natural gas deposits are found on land, and some are offshore and deep under the ocean floor.
• A type of natural gas found in coal deposits is called coalbed methane.

Forms of Natural Gas: It comes in 4 basic forms

1. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) - Natural Gas which has been liquefied at – (Minus) 160 degrees Centigrade. Natural Gas is liquefied to facilitate transportation in large volumes in cryogenic tankers across seas/land.
2. Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) – LNG is Re-gasified at import terminals before transporting it to consumers through Pipelines.
3. Compressed Natural gas (CNG) - Natural Gas compressed to a pressure of 200-250 kg/cm2 is used as fuel for transportation. CNG decreases vehicular pollution on the virtue of being cleaner fuel than liquid fuels.
4. Piped Natural gas (PNG) - Natural Gas is distributed through a pipeline network that has safety valves to maintain the pressure, assuring safe, uninterrupted supply to the domestic sector for cooking and heating/cooling applications.

Production and Delivery of Natural Gas

• Natural gas withdrawn from natural gas or crude oil wells is called wet natural gas because, along with methane, it usually contains NGL—ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes—and water vapor.
• Wellhead natural gas may also contain nonhydrocarbons such as sulfur, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide, most of which must be removed from natural gas before it is sold to consumers.
• From the wellhead, natural gas is sent to processing plants where water vapor and nonhydrocarbon compounds are removed and NGL are separated from the wet gas and sold separately.
• Some ethane is often left in the processed natural gas.
• The separated NGL are called natural gas plant liquids (NGPL), and the processed natural gas is called dry, consumer-grade, or pipeline quality natural gas.
• Some wellhead natural gas is sufficiently dry and satisfies pipeline transportation standards without processing.
• Chemicals called odorants are added to natural gas so that leaks in natural gas pipelines can be detected.
• Dry natural gas is sent through pipelines to underground storage fields or to distribution companies and then to consumers.
• In places where natural gas pipelines are not available to take away associated natural gas produced from oil wells, the natural gas may be reinjected into the oil-bearing formation, or it may be vented or burned (flared). Reinjecting unmarketable natural gas can help to maintain pressure in oil wells to improve oil production.
• Coalbed methane can be extracted from coal deposits before or during coal mining, and it can be added to natural gas pipelines without any special treatment.
• Most of the natural gas consumed in the United States is produced in the United States. Some natural gas is imported from Canada and Mexico in pipelines. A small amount of natural gas is also imported as liquefied natural gas.

Uses of Natural Gas

• Power sector: As fuel for base load power plants In combined cycle/co-generation power plants
• Fertilizer industry: As feed stock in the production of ammonia and urea
• Industrial uses: As an under boiler fuel for raising steam As fuel in furnaces and heating applications
• Domestic and commercial: It is used as PNG and CPNG for cooking and fuel respectively.
• Automotive: It is used as an eco-friendly fuel.
• Petrochemicals: As the raw material from which a variety of chemical products e.g. methanol, are derived.

Natural Gas Transmission

• Natural Gas Pipeline Infrastructure connects various gas sources to different gas markets to meet the existing/ future natural gas demand of various Powers, Fertilizer, CGD and other industries in the Country.
• The gas pipeline infrastructure has facilitated widespread industrialization and has brought significant socio-economic changes to different parts of the country.
• The Government recognizes the need to augment the natural gas transmission infrastructure in the country and has been driving the development of natural gas pipeline connecting all regions of the country which is shaping-up into Natural Gas Grid (NGG).
• Over the years, GAIL as a major gas pipeline operator has contributed to the growth and development of natural gas pipeline infrastructure and natural gas market.
• It has an existing 13,718 Km. of gas pipeline network with a capacity of 204 MMSCMD.
• GAIL’s existing natural gas pipeline network covers 20 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand and West Bengal) and 2 UT’s ( Puducherry & Dadra Nagar Haveli).

Operational Natural Gas Pipelines of India

• Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur & Gas Rehabilitation and Expansion Project & Dahej-Vijaipur Pipeline Network (HVJ-GREP-DVPL-I)
• Dahej-Vijaipur Pipeline (II) & Vijaipur-Dadri Pipeline Network.
• Tripura Network
• Cauvery Basin
• Chhainsa-Jhajjar-Hissar Pipeline Network (CJPL)
• Dahej-Uran-Panvel-Dabhol Pipeline Network
• Dadri-Bawana-Nangal Pipeline Network
• Dabhol-Bengaluru Pipeline Network (DBPL)
• Gujarat Regional Pipeline Network
• Jagdishpur Haldia & Barauni Guwahati Pipeline Network (JHBDPL)
• KG Basin Pipeline Network
• Kochi-Koottanad-Bengaluru-Mangaluru Pipeline Network (KKBMPL)
• Mumbai Regional Pipeline Network

Why is there a need to move towards Natural Gas?

• Despite coming under the bracket of the much-defamed non-recyclable energy source, India needs to invest to reap its benefits.
• This is because the only by-product of natural gas is water and carbon dioxide, and we do not have to deal with pollutants such as Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, etc.
• Also, India today has the dubious distinction of being the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gas after the USA and China.
• Switching to natural gas will help the Indian energy roadmap to move to greener pastures.
• It will also be in line with India’s energy commitments at COP 21, that is, the Paris Convention of 2015. We have pledged to reduce carbon emission by 33-35% as compared to 2005 levels in India.
• Today India sources substantial amounts of its natural gas imports from Qatar, with whom it has a long-term agreement. With the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat at the forefront, investing in pipeline infrastructure will be a step forward in self-reliance, and decreased dependency on imports.
• Also, pipelines are an economical, safe, and hassle-free mode of gas transportation.
• Transparency and speedy progress in the natural gas sector will promote ease of doing business.
• This in turn will generate employment in gas-consuming sectors and will aid investment in industries downstream, such as City Gas Distribution.
• We see applications of natural gas in the day-to-day activities of industries and households. Manufacturing, fertilizer industry, urea manufacturing, and other commercially important chemicals are manufactured by using natural gas as an energy source. Other applications include electricity generation, cooking gas at home, and fuel for vehicle transportation.

Natural Gas data in India

• To increase the share of natural gas, the government has announced the expansion of the natural gas grid from the previous 17,500 kilometers to 34,500 kilometers. To which, 450 kms have already been added making it approx 18000. The next 16000 kms is expected to be achieved in the next 4-6 years.
• Total consumption of natural gas in India stands at 148.02 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day.
• The government is looking forward to achieving the goal of clean energy, by increasing the share of natural gas in the primary energy basket of India from 6.2% to 15% by 2030.
• Gas comprises about 6.2% of India’s primary energy mix, far behind the global average of 24%. The government plans to increase this share to 15% by 2030. India’s gas demand is expected to be driven by fertilizer, power, city gas distribution, and steel sectors.
• Globally, the share of energy production from natural gas stands at 23.4%. India thus has a lot of catching up to do when compared to its global counterparts. The $60 billion gas pipeline project is in line with this goal.

Challenges of Gas Pipeline project

The execution of the gas pipeline project envisioned by the Prime Minister will be an uphill task because the scope of natural gas is severely limited in India at present.

• Firstly, the gas fields are concentrated in only a few pockets across the country, namely in Bombay high, offshore Mumbai coast, Tripura and Assam in the North East, and Krishna Godavari Basin down south.
• Secondly, the pipeline system is insufficient, given that it connects only the northern states.
• The existing pipelines are also grossly underutilized. For example, GAIL has noted, it can use only 47% of its existing 11,500km gas pipeline capacity. This leads to a low return on investment for companies, thus disincentivizing more companies to carry forth natural gas exploration.
• Due to these infrastructural hiccups, we have to import Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from the USA and Qatar, through the Open General License (OGL). Also, we have only six natural gas refueling terminals presently, including those at Mundra, Ennore, etc.
• Petroleum, including natural gas, falls under the Union List in the Constitution of India. This implies that only the central government can make laws and take decisions in the gas energy department. This leads to clashes in land acquisition at the local level, further delaying gas projects. Obtaining permission to lay the pipelines is only one of the hurdles, following which safety issues of the workers become a major concern given the explosive nature of natural gas, including accidents due to human error and technical fault.
• Apart from the impact on human beings, drilling to explore gas can have major repercussions on the marine habitat. Marine life is already suffering due to excessive oil drilling and oil spills, added to which exploring natural gas can further deteriorate their habitat. We have often heard that Whales lose their way due to disturbance in the communication frequency and land up getting stranded. The fish and coral present on the immediate offshore are also declining. One of the primary causes of these disasters is excessive human interference due to drilling and exploration.

Government efforts for Natural Gas Grid

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the ‘Natural Gas Marketing’ reform in November 2020.
• Recently, an investment of 70,000 crores is being made along the east coast. Further, the Ministry of petroleum and natural gas has released a draft city gas distribution pipeline. It may be adopted by City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network.
• Reduced road tax and VAT will also be offered to vehicles running on natural gas.
• All these are proactive measures, taking us a step ahead in the right direction towards a gas-based economy.

One Nation One Gas Grid

• The Indian Power system for planning and operational purposes is divided into five regional grids.
• One Nation, One Gas Grid refers to the integration of these regional grids thus establishing a National Grid for providing energy produced by natural gas to various stakeholders like the central government, the state governments, the public and the private sectors.
• The initiative of the Indian government will help meet its target of reaching 15% natural gas in its energy basket mix by 2030 which is currently at 6.2-6.5% whereas the global average is 23-24%.
• With one nation and one gas grid, the energy produced from natural gas will be supplied to the whole country via a single source.
• It will help in improving the regional imbalance of gas availability as currently the natural gas is only in limited pockets of the country.
• One nation, one gas grid which will help emerge India as a gas based economy.
• The import dependency of natural gas in India has reached to 53%. In order to reduce this high percentage, the government is taking measures to diversify the energy mix of India.

Other Schemes

• North East Gas Grid Project
• Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project
• Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast India
• Ujjwala Scheme, which has already benefitted 8 crore households, will be extended to cover 1 crore more beneficiaries.
• 100 more districts will be being added to the City Gas Distribution Network in the next three years.
• A Gas pipeline project will be taken up in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• An Independent Gas Transport System Operator will be set up for facilitation and coordination of booking of common carrier capacity in all-natural gas pipelines on a non-discriminatory open access basis.

Way Forward and Conclusion

• Despite these ventures, a lot is left to be achieved. The central government can start by connecting gas sources to gas consumption domains.
• The gas lines are presently distributed unevenly across the country, leading to uncertainty of a smooth supply of gas.
• India will also have to invest in technology that facilitates deeper drilling, and engage in large-scale import tie-ups till domestic pipelines are fully functional.
• It’s a common idiom, that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We are yet to see tangible outcomes from this energy source, which is still in its nascent stage.
• To reap the benefits, Natural Gas has to be a viable source of energy, and India needs to balance affordability, access, energy security, and environmental sustainability. This must be accompanied by developing requisite infrastructure in the form of terminals, stations, and pipelines.

Drug Abuse in India

Although the use of various psychoactive substances such as alcohol, cannabis and opioids has been observed in India for centuries, the current dimension of the extent and pattern of psychoactive substance use and the problems associated with their use are not well documented.

The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi was entrusted with the responsibility to lead the technical and scientific aspects of the National Survey on Extent and Pattern for Substance Use in India which was conducted in all the 36 states and UTs of the country, in collaboration with ten other medical institutes and a network of 15 NGOs.

Drug Abuse in India

• Substance abuse exists in all population groups but adult men bear the brunt of substance use disorders.
• Alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians. About 14.6% of population (between 10 to 75 years) consume alcohol. States with the highest prevalence of alcohol use are Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa.
• After Alcohol, Cannabis and Opioids are the next commonly used substances in India. About 2.8% of the population (3.1 crore individuals) reports having used any cannabis product within the previous year.
• It has been estimated that there are about 8.5 lakh people who inject drugs.
• Of the total cases estimated by the report, more than half of them are contributed by states like Punjab, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh.
• About 60 lakh people are estimated to need help for their opioid use problems.
• More and more children are taking to alcohol consumption and the highest percentage of children who are addicted to alcohol are in Punjab followed by West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
• According to NCRB data, in 2019, 7719 out of the total 7860 suicide victims due to drug abuse/alcohol addiction were male.
• Even in the data relating to deaths due to road accidents, drugs & alcohol are one of the most causative factors.

Reasons for use of drugs in India

• India is at the location between Golden Crescent (Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) and Golden Triange (Burma, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam) which are the two largest opium producing regions of the World.
• Students and Youth consume drugs as a stress buster from their studies or work pressure. It is generally seen that an unemployed youth, out of frustration, ends up in taking drugs.
• Peer pressure and other psychological factors like the glamour attached to it and out of fun can cause teens to engage in risky behaviours, leading to substance abuse.
• People in the lower income group who cannot have an adequate amount of food, take drugs to sleep or relax.
• The cause behind drug menace is the drug cartels, crime syndicates and ultimately the ISI which is the biggest supplier of drugs.
• The African as well as the Southasian route being misused to bring drugs into the country.

Impact of Drug Abuse

• Drug abuse leads to physical, psychological, moral and intellectual decay. This means wastage of economic potential of young generation.
• Drug addiction causes immense human distress. Incidence of eve- teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse.
• Drug use can lead to social and emotional problems and can affect relationships with family and friends.
• Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult.
• Illegal production and distribution of drugs have spawned crime and violence worldwide.
• Increase in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis due to addiction adds the reservoir of infection in the community burdening the health care system further.
• Women in India face greater problems from drug abuse. The consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV, as well as the financial burden.

International Efforts to fight Drug abuse

• The first International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed by the UN General Assembly on June 26, 1987. Since then, every year, this day marks the coherent and seamless global cooperation to achieve a drug-free society. So far, the UN has organized three international conventions in 1961, 1971 and 1988. The first one sought to eliminate the illicit production and non-medical use of opioids, cannabis and cocaine. The meeting held in 1971 extended the scope to the psychotropic medications or synthetic drugs (e.g., amphetamines, barbiturates and LSD). The third convention against illicit trafficking was targeted at the suppression of the illegal global market, and the restriction was also extended to the precursor chemicals.
• India is also signatory to the following International treaties and conventions:

1. United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
2. UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971).
3. UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
4. UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000

Efforts by India to reduce Drug abuse

As enshrined in its constitution (Article 47) and being one of the signatories of the United Nation's International Conventions, India had the onus act to eliminate the use of illicit drugs, to develop measures to prevent drug use and to ensure availability of treatment for people with drug use disorders.

India has adopted the three-pronged strategies - supply, demand and harm reduction.

Drug De-addiction Programme (DDAP)

• Following the 1971's UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, established an Expert Committee to look into the issue of drug and alcohol use in India.
• The Committee's report was submitted in 1977, and after approval from the Planning Commission, Drug De-addiction Programme (DDAP) was rolled out in 1985-1986.
• The primary aim of the DDAP was drug demand reduction.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985

• India is a signatory to the UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 which prescribe various forms of control aimed to achieve the dual objective of limiting the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes as well as preventing the abuse of the same.
• The primary aim of the NDPS was 'to prevent and combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking', an apparent emphasis on the supply reduction.
• The administrative and legislative setup in the field of Narcotics has been put in place in the country in accordance with the spirit of the UN Conventions.
• The basic legislative instrument of the Government of India in this regard is the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
• The Act provides stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• It also provides for forfeiture of property derived from, or used in, illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• It also provides for death penalty in some cases where a person is a repeat offender.

National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse

• The consultative committee (an advisory committee formed by the NDPS Act), which was constituted in 1988, formulated a national-level policy to control drug abuse.
• The committee created a fund, National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse and involved a couple of other major stakeholders - the Ministry of Health (and Family Welfare) and the Ministry of Welfare (currently Social Justice and Empowerment).
• The Ministry of Health was entrusted with the job of prevention and treatment of drug dependence, whereas the Ministry of Welfare was assigned with the responsibility of the rehabilitation and social integration of people with drug dependence.
• The Ministry of Health established seven treatment centres during the first phase (in 1988).
• The aims of these centres were treatment, drafting of educational material and training of medical and paramedical staff to generate the future workforce to deal with the problem of drug abuse.

Other Policy and Schemes

• Over the last three decades, there has been a substantial expansion of services in all dimensions.
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment published the draft policy of the drug demand reduction, the National Drug Demand Reduction Draft Policy in 2013.
• To scale up the existing services, the Ministry has rolled out the 'Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Social Defence Services.'
• The Ministry of Social Justice has also published its five-year plan, 'National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction' in 2018.
• The Mental Health Care Act (2017) has included alcohol and drug use disorders under its ambit. This measure is likely to increase the adherence to the human rights, to ensure non-discrimination, the respect to the right to autonomy and confidentiality, to increase the availability and access to the minimum standard of care and rehabilitation for people with substance use disorders.

Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign

• This campaign launched this year in 2020, is run for 272 Most Affected Districts’ by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with focus on institutional support, community outreach and awareness generation.
• It focuses on a three-pronged strategy combining-

1. Efforts of Narcotics Bureau,
2. Outreach/Awareness by Social Justice and
3. Treatment through the Health Dept.

• These districts are identified based on inputs from Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and findings of Comprehensive National Survey done by Ministry.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in 272 districts is from 15th August 2020 to 31st March 2021.
• Abhiyaan Action Plan has the following components:-

1. Awareness generation programmes in the community and Youth in particular
2. Focus on Higher Educational institutions, University Campuses and Schools
3. Community outreach and identification of dependent population
4. Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital settings
5. Capacity Building Programmes for Service Providers.

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.
• The Plan aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy.
• The activities under the NAPDDR, inter-alia, include awareness generation programmes in schools/colleges/Universities, workshops/seminars/ with parents, community based peer led interactions intervention programmes for vulnerable adolescent and youth in the community, provisioning of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.
• The Ministry has also initiated focused intervention programmes in vulnerable districts across the country with an aim to increase community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand for dependence-producing substances and promote collective initiatives and self-help endeavour among individuals and groups vulnerable to addiction or found at risk.

Way Forward

• Considering the enormous challenge of substance use disorders in the country, there is an urgent need of policies and programmes which can bring relief to the large number of affected Indian citizens.
• Scientific evidence-based treatment needs to be made available for people with Substance use disorders.
• A coordinated, multi-stakeholder response will be necessary to scale-up treatment programmes in the country.
• Evidence-based substance use prevention programmes are needed to protect the young people.
• A conducive legal and policy environment is needed to help control drug problems.
• Harm reduction needs to be embraced widely as a philosophy to deal with substance use.
• Prevention of drug abuse and its health and psychosocial impact should be made part of the curriculum from the upper primary level.
• Revival of school clubs for early identification of drug users and expert intervention and setting up of suggestion box in schools.
• Awareness building and educating people about ill effects of drug abuse.
• Community based intervention for motivational counselling, identification, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
• Training of volunteer/service providers and other stakeholders with a view to build up a committed and skilled cadre.
• Undertake drug demand reduction efforts to address all forms of drug abuse including dependence related to the consumption of two or more substances at the same time.

Conclusion

• Drug menace is the manifestation of deep-rooted distortions in the socio-cultural, economic and political system. Being systemic and multi-dimensional, its solution shall have to be systemic and multi-pronged.
• It is emphasized the need of preventive, punitive and curative measures to tackle the menace.
• There is an urgent need to understand the complexity of the problem having far-reaching social, economic and political implications.
• There is a need to address all these factors responsible for drug menace in the region as punitive measures alone cannot uproot this menace.

Total Ramsar Sites in India are now 46!

• Four more wetlands from India get recognition from the Ramsar Secretariat as Ramsar sites. These sites are Thol and Wadhwana from Gujarat and Sultanpur and Bhindawas from Haryana.

• With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India is 46 and the surface area covered by these sites is now 1,083,322 hectares.
• While Haryana gets its first Ramsar sites, Gujarat gets three more after Nalsarovar which was declared in 2012.
• The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits”.
• Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. They are, in fact, a major source of water and our main supply of fresh water comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater.
• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest wetland in Haryana is a human-made freshwater wetland. Over 250 bird species use the sanctuary throughout the year as a resting and roosting site. The site supports more than ten globally threatened species including the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and Black-bellied Tern.
• Sultanpur National Park from Haryana supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles. More than ten of these are globally threatened, including the critically endangered sociable lapwing, and the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon, Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Black-bellied Tern.
• Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary from Gujarat lies on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found here. The wetland supports more than 30 threatened waterbird species, such as the critically endangered White-rumped Vulture and Sociable Lapwing, and the vulnerable Sarus Crane, Common Pochard and Lesser White-fronted Goose.
• Wadhvana Wetland from Gujarat is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway. They include some threatened or near-threatened species such as the endangered Pallas’s fish-Eagle, the vulnerable Common Pochard, and the near-threatened Dalmatian Pelican, Grey-headed Fish-eagle and Ferruginous Duck.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change would be working closely with the State Wetland Authorities to ensure the wise use of these sites.