<p>The Supreme Court’s order on wetlands last week shows its concern over the threat to a natural feature of the environment that is under serious threat. The court ordered the protection of about 30,000 wetlands over the 201,503 protected by an order which it issued in 2017, and asked states to ensure their demarcation and ground-truthing which involves closer verification, within three months.</p>.<p>The order covers wetlands that are more than 2.25 hectares in size. The number is based on satellite data provided by ISRO, and these wetlands need to be located and verified on the ground. The court also ordered the suo motu monitoring of 85 Ramsar sites, wetlands identified as important under the Ramsar convention of 1971.</p>.<p>The orders were based on a PIL that said the Central government had abdicated its functions under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to protect the wetlands. The petition also sought the identification and protection of around 5,55,557 wetlands which are less than 2.25 hectares in size. The court is likely to consider the proposal in March. The Central government had submitted an affidavit to the court about the number of wetlands.</p>.Navi Mumbai coastal road buries mangroves, wetlands: Greens SOS to Centre .<p>The petitioners noted that wetland rules were amended in 2017, giving states the powers to not only identify and notify wetlands within their jurisdictions but also keep a watch on prohibited activities. States had to complete the verification of wetlands under the 2017 rules but most of them have failed to do that in the last seven years. Many of the wetlands have deteriorated and have become waste-dumping and construction sites. There is no trace of many others.</p>.<p>The existence and survival of wetlands is crucial for the health of the planet’s ecosystem. They include marshlands, fen, peatlands or water bodies of all kinds; they support rich biodiversity and are habitats of many flora and fauna. Wetlands have an important role in flood control, prevention of land erosion, and protection against cyclones. They also help in groundwater recharge and provide livelihood to large numbers of people.</p>.<p>It is unfortunate that the highest court’s intervention is needed to ensure their protection. Since the task is huge and calls for attention to detail on a very large scale, it is doubtful whether court orders will be enough to accomplish it. Governments, at the Central and state levels, and local bodies, should consider it their responsibility to restore wetlands that have deteriorated and ensure that the others are protected. It is also the duty of the people to care for and protect wetlands in their localities.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court’s order on wetlands last week shows its concern over the threat to a natural feature of the environment that is under serious threat. The court ordered the protection of about 30,000 wetlands over the 201,503 protected by an order which it issued in 2017, and asked states to ensure their demarcation and ground-truthing which involves closer verification, within three months.</p>.<p>The order covers wetlands that are more than 2.25 hectares in size. The number is based on satellite data provided by ISRO, and these wetlands need to be located and verified on the ground. The court also ordered the suo motu monitoring of 85 Ramsar sites, wetlands identified as important under the Ramsar convention of 1971.</p>.<p>The orders were based on a PIL that said the Central government had abdicated its functions under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to protect the wetlands. The petition also sought the identification and protection of around 5,55,557 wetlands which are less than 2.25 hectares in size. The court is likely to consider the proposal in March. The Central government had submitted an affidavit to the court about the number of wetlands.</p>.Navi Mumbai coastal road buries mangroves, wetlands: Greens SOS to Centre .<p>The petitioners noted that wetland rules were amended in 2017, giving states the powers to not only identify and notify wetlands within their jurisdictions but also keep a watch on prohibited activities. States had to complete the verification of wetlands under the 2017 rules but most of them have failed to do that in the last seven years. Many of the wetlands have deteriorated and have become waste-dumping and construction sites. There is no trace of many others.</p>.<p>The existence and survival of wetlands is crucial for the health of the planet’s ecosystem. They include marshlands, fen, peatlands or water bodies of all kinds; they support rich biodiversity and are habitats of many flora and fauna. Wetlands have an important role in flood control, prevention of land erosion, and protection against cyclones. They also help in groundwater recharge and provide livelihood to large numbers of people.</p>.<p>It is unfortunate that the highest court’s intervention is needed to ensure their protection. Since the task is huge and calls for attention to detail on a very large scale, it is doubtful whether court orders will be enough to accomplish it. Governments, at the Central and state levels, and local bodies, should consider it their responsibility to restore wetlands that have deteriorated and ensure that the others are protected. It is also the duty of the people to care for and protect wetlands in their localities.</p>
