Supreme Court Throws a Lifeline to Vanishing Wetlands: Kashmir Group Welcomes Move

New Delhi/Srinagar: In a groundbreaking move for environmental conservation, the Supreme Court of India has directed the protection of an additional 30,000 wetlands, increasing the total protected network from 201,503 to 231,503. The directive follows a Public Interest Litigation filed by environmentalists Anand Arya, advocate MK Balakrishnan, and NGO Vanashakti.

The judgment, delivered by Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, mandates state and union territory governments to complete the demarcation and ground-truthing of wetlands within three months. Additionally, the court ordered proactive monitoring of 85 Ramsar sites, bolstering conservation efforts across the country. This latest ruling builds upon earlier directives from 2017 aimed at strengthening wetland protection.

The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) lauded the decision as a pivotal step in addressing long-standing deficiencies in wetland conservation, particularly in ecologically fragile regions like Jammu and Kashmir. However, EPG underscored the dire condition of several key wetlands in the region, where rampant encroachment and administrative failures continue to erode ecological health.

Among the wetlands in focus, the Hokersar Wetland, once known as the “Queen of Wetlands,” is facing severe degradation. Despite significant investments in infrastructure to regulate water levels, illegal earth excavation and noise pollution from heavy machinery have driven migratory birds away, disrupting critical ecological processes.

The Haigam Wetland suffers from silt accumulation, encroachment, and illegal land conversion into orchards and paddy fields. Alarmingly, some of these encroachments involve employees of the Wildlife Department, directly violating Ramsar Convention mandates.

The Shallabugh Wetland, which has been largely neglected since flood breaches earlier this year, has seen significant drying up of its area, further compromising its ecological functions. Other wetlands, such as Mirgund, face similar threats, while the Narakarra Wetland/Nambal is battling encroachments despite court-mandated status quo orders. Encroachments by land mafias and controversial allocations to educational institutions further exacerbate its plight.

Using satellite data from SAC-ISRO, the Supreme Court emphasized the critical role of wetlands in supporting biodiversity, regulating climate, and mitigating floods. The EPG has called for immediate and strict implementation of the court’s orders, along with comprehensive investigations into systemic failures in wildlife management. The group also demanded accountability for officials implicated in facilitating encroachments and illegal activities.

“This judicial intervention is a watershed moment for environmental conservation,” the EPG stated. The group urged authorities to act decisively to protect and restore wetlands, pledging continued advocacy to safeguard these vital ecosystems.

The Supreme Court’s order has brought renewed hope for reversing the alarming decline of wetlands across India, but its success hinges on timely and effective execution by state and local authorities.