The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) welcomes a landmark Supreme Court directive that orders the protection of an additional 30,000 wetlands, significantly expanding the existing protected wetland network from 201,503 to over 231,503 across India. This groundbreaking judicial intervention comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by environmental activists Anand Arya, advocate MK Balakrishnan, and the NGO Vanashakti.
The Supreme Court's comprehensive order, delivered by a bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, has several critical provisions. The court has mandated state and union territory governments to complete the demarcation and ground-truthing of wetlands within three months, building upon its previous 2017 conservation directives. Additionally, the court has directed suo motu monitoring of 85 Ramsar sites, expanding the scope of wetland conservation efforts nationally.
EPG hails The Supreme Court order which has left no room for wildlife administrators to escape their fundamental responsibilities for wetland conservation. This order comprehensively addresses the systemic failures in protecting these critical ecological zones."
"The judicial intervention comes at a crucial time, particularly for ecologically sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir, where wetlands are facing multiple existential threats:"
Hokersar Wetland: Once celebrated as the "Queen of Wetlands," is facing critical challenges despite huge sums of amount having been spent on the construction of inlet and outlet gates to regulate the required water level. The wetland is experiencing severe restoration challenges that may compromise its ability to host migratory birds this season, potentially disrupting crucial ecological cycles. The wetland is experiencing illegal earth excavation under the camaflouge of some tendered allotment. The operation of machines and movement of trucks round the clock and the noise pollution caused thereof has Shood away the birds which had started to arrive at the Wetland. The repeated protestations of EPG has fallen on deaf ears.
Haigham Wetland presents an alarming scenario of environmental degradation. The wetland is battling extensive silt accumulation, widespread encroachment, and illegal conversion of wetland areas into orchards and paddy fields. Shockingly, some of these encroachments involve retired and serving employees of the Wildlife Department, directly violating the Ramsar Convention's protection mandate.
Shallabugh Wetland has been left in a state of neglect, with flood-related breaches from the early this year remaining unrepaired. This has resulted in large parts of wetland becoming dry land. Similarly Mirgund and other wetlands suffer similar fate. The progressively drying up of wetlands raise serious questions about the Wildlife Department's commitment to ecological preservation.
Narakarra Wetland/Nambal represents another critical concern. Despite status quo orders issued by the Division Bench of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, land mafias continue to encroach upon this important flood absorption basin. The situation is further complicated by land allocations to educational institutions, necessitating a thorough investigation.
The Supreme Court's order is particularly significant as it is based on satellite data from SAC-ISRO, requiring comprehensive ground-level verification. The bench has elaborately described the multifaceted benefits, uses, and functions of wetlands, emphasizing their critical role in ecological balance.
The Environmental Policy Group calls for immediate and stringent implementation of the Supreme Court's directives, comprehensive investigation into systematic wildlife management failures, strict accountability for officials facilitating ecological encroachments, and comprehensive restoration plans for critically threatened wetlands.
"This judicial intervention represents a watershed moment in environmental conservation, providing a robust legal framework for protecting these vital ecological ecosystems that are crucial for biodiversity, climate regulation, and sustainable environmental management.” EPG believes that the Supreme Court order will be implemented in letter and spirit for which it will keep on pursuing it.