The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed states and Union Territories to demarcate and ground-truth approximately 30,000 additional wetlands within three months, expanding the protection granted to the 201,503 wetlands identified in a 2017 order. This decision aims to safeguard critical habitats often overlooked by governments, utilizing satellite data from the Space Applications Centre of ISRO (SAC-ISRO) as a baseline for verification.
Key Directives and Monitoring
The bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, emphasized the need for proactive conservation measures, including suo motu monitoring of 85 Ramsar sites, which are internationally recognized wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. The court highlighted the importance of protecting these ecologically significant areas and scheduled the next hearing for March 25, 2025.
The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Anand Arya, a Greater Noida-based birder, advocate MK Balakrishnan, and the NGO Vanashakti. Petitioners also urged the court to monitor an additional 26 Ramsar sites in high courts across Patna, Bombay (including the Goa bench), Karnataka, Gauhati (Aizawl bench), and Uttarakhand.
Wetlands in India: A Critical Resource
Wetlands, as defined by the Ramsar Convention, include natural and artificial areas with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or salty, and can extend to marine areas up to six meters deep at low tide. They provide essential ecological functions, such as supporting biodiversity, mitigating droughts and floods, recharging groundwater, and acting as green spaces in urban areas.
India is home to 231,195 wetlands identified through SAC satellite observations. However, only 92 of these have been formally notified for protection under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. A significant backlog remains:
- Ground-truthing has been completed for only 81,649 wetlands.
- Boundary demarcation is finalized for just 784 wetlands.
- Detailed documentation exists for 1,965 wetlands.
Challenges in Implementation
Petitioners noted that over 5,55,557 wetlands smaller than 2.25 hectares, identified in the National Wetland Inventory & Assessment 2011, also require protection. The Supreme Court is expected to address this issue in its next hearing.
The union environment ministry, in a November 11 affidavit, admitted limited progress in implementing the court’s October 2017 directive to protect 201,503 mapped wetlands under Rule 4 of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. Amendments made in 2017 decentralized wetlands management, delegating responsibilities to state governments. Critics argue this shift has led to inaction, with Anand Arya describing it as an abdication of central oversight under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
A Pivotal Step for Wetlands Conservation
The Supreme Court’s latest directive underscores the importance of wetlands for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development. Wetlands act as buffers against droughts and floods, recharge groundwater, and serve as vital habitats for birds and other wildlife. By ensuring compliance with the 2017 Wetland Rules and emphasizing the role of states, the order aims to address decades of neglect and promote ecological stewardship across India.
This decision is a critical step toward conserving India’s wetlands, ensuring they continue to provide ecological, social, and economic benefits for generations to come.
