Wetlands: India
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Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)
The complete list, as in
Bangladesh
2020: 10 more Indian wetlands included
Vishwa Mohan, January 29, 2020: The Times of India
From: Vishwa Mohan, January 29, 2020: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Ten more Indian wetland sites, including the first from Maharashtra, have received the tag of international importance under the Ramsar Convention — an inter-governmental global treaty to preserve ecological character of selected wetlands across the globe.
With the addition of these ten sites, one in Maharashtra, three in Punjab and six in Uttar Pradesh, the list of wetlands in India under the Convention has grown to 37 with surface area of over 10,679 sq km, an area nearly the size of Sikkim and Goa put together. India’s list of 37 includes Sambhar lake of Rajasthan which had last year seen mass mortality of migratory birds due to avian botulism caused by a bacteria. This saline lake had entered the global list in 1990. Globally, there are over 2,300 Ramsar sites around the world, covering over 2.1 million sq km.
The new Indian sites include Nandur Madhameshwar bird sanctuary (Maharashtra); Beas conservation reserve, Keshopur-Miani community reserve and Nangal wildlife sanctuary (Punjab); Nawabganj bird sanctuary, Parvati Arga bird sanctuary, Saman bird sanctuary, Sarsai Nawar lake, Samaspur bird sanctuary and Sandi bird sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh).
“The site (Nandur Madhameshwar) is used by diverse group of species especially by resident birds for breeding and by migratory birds as a winter stopover site,” tweeted Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar while congratulating Maharashtra on getting its first Ramsar site.
Under the Ramsar (Iran) Convention of 1971, the member countries identify those sites which are recognised as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but for humanity as a whole.
“The inclusion of a wetland in the list embodies the government’s commitment to take steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained. The Convention includes various measures to respond to threats to the ecological character of sites,” said the global accord on its website.
The wetlands — land areas covered by water, either temporarily\seasonally or permanently — play a key role in flood control, water supply and providing food, fibre and raw materials. Besides, such land areas also support migratory birds from colder regions of the world in summers, apart from mangroves that protect coastlines and filter pollutants.
Sharing information on new Ramsar sites ahead of the World Wetlands Day (February 2), the environment ministry on Tuesday claimed that it has prepared a four-pronged strategy for the restoration of wetlands which includes preparing a baseline data, wetland health cards, enlisting wetland ‘mitras’ (friends) and preparation of targeted Integrated Management Plans. The ministry had on January 6 notified new guidelines for implementing Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 which prohibit setting up or expansion of industries, and disposal of construction and demolition waste within the wetlands.
Rules
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
New Rules May Expand List Of Legal Activities
Seeking to protect over 2 lakh wetlands across the country , the Centre has come out with rules to identify and manage these ecologically fragile areas which play an important role in flood control, groundwater recharge, preserving plant varieties, supporting migratory birds and protecting coastlines.
The new rules, notified by the environment ministry on Tuesday , decentralise wetlands management by giving states powers to not only identify and notify wetlands within their jurisdictions but also keep a watch on prohibited activities.
It also indirectly widens the ambit of permitted activities by inserting the `wise use' principle, giving powers to state-level wetland authorities to decide what can be allowed in larger interest.
The notification says, “The wetlands shall be conserved and managed in accordance with the principle of `wise use' as determined by the Wetlands Authority .“
Though it lists prohibited activities, the `wise use' principle may invite criticism from environmentalists who had earlier objected to it when the ministry put out the draft rules in public domain in March last year.
Many conservationists had pointed out then that the `wise use' principle would lead to arbitrary decisions on the basis of selective understanding of critical issues around the ecologically fragile areas. The ministry , in its gazette notification, noted that the “suggestions and objections“ received in response to the draft rules were considered in consulta tion with state governments and UT administrations.
The Centre's role under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, will be restricted to monitoring its implementation by statesUTs, recommending trans-boundary wetlands for notification and reviewing integrated management of selected wetlands under the Ramsar Convention -an international arrangement to preserve identified wetlands.
Decentralisation of wetlands management is seen as the ministry's effort to sync environmental policies with the government's ease of doing business norms which are aimed at cutting delays in green clearances for development activities and supporting livelihood issues.
The new rules replace the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, which had a provision for a super body to decide on all activities relating to wetlands.
The new rules make the provision of respective statelevel wetland authorities with the Centre having a limited role through a national wetlands committee, headed by the Union environment secretary as its chairperson.
Johads
Are `johads' wetlands?
The Times of India, Aug 03 2016
Are `johads' wetlands: Delhi to Centre
Responding to a National Green Tribunal or der on identifying and notify ing wetlands by all states and UTs, Delhi government has written to the environment ministry to clarify whether “johads“ are wetlands. Most waterbodies in the city's reve nue records are labelled jo hads. After the clarification, the government may consider notifying some johads as “wetlands“, which means they would be conserved and their status or land use cannot be changed.
The notification list will be prepared only once the ownership status of the water r bodies is verified, officials told TOI. As of now, the government has sent a list of five lakes -four under Delhi Development Authority , and one under MCD for notification to MoEFCC. These include Purana Qila lake near the zoo, Bhalswa, Hauz Khas in south Delhi and Naini lake in Model Town.
“Many johads have no water any more. They are differ ent from ponds or lakes, and are not mentioned as wetlands in the rules,“ said SD Singh, the nodal officer for waterbodies.
Johads are mainly check dams built for rainwater harvesting, many of them ancient, officials said.
“On a rough estimate, there are more than 800 water bodies in the city . Some of them are just depressions. But if revived they can recharge ground water levels, stop flooding and revive the entire ecological system of an area,“ added Singh.
The government is also considering a nodal agency for wetlands but the department hasn't been finalized yet. As of now waterbodies are scattered under DDA, MCD, Delhi Jal Board and others. Under the wetland rules 2010, several activities are restricted on wetlands including discharge of effluents, encroachment of the catchment, setting up industries, dumping of solid waste or dredging.
Meanwhile, the high level committee on waterbodies headed by PWD minister Satyendra Jain is planning to take up the revival of ten wetlands this monsoon mainly to ensure they are viable recharge points.
These include two wetlands in Dwarka sector 20 and sector 22, Najafgarh, Mundhela Khurd, Dhansa, Isapur, Malikpur and others.
These will be excavated for better recharge and cleared of solid waste.
Number of wetlands, Ramsar sites
2020: number of protected wetlands increases 50%
Vishwa Mohan, November 14, 2020: The Times of India
From: Vishwa Mohan, November 14, 2020: The Times of India
Sur Sarovar And Lonar Lake Now Ramsar Sites
The number of protected wetlands in India under the Ramsar Convention increased by 50% in one year, taking the number of such sites of international importance from 27 in 2019 to 41 this year. The 49-year-old convention is an inter-governmental global treaty meant to preserve the ecological character of selected wetlands across the globe.
A day after environment minister Prakash Javadekar announced Kabartal in Begusarai (Bihar) getting the Ramsar tag, his ministry on Friday said two more sites were added to the list — Sur Sarovar in Agra and Lonar Lake on the Deccan plateau in Maharashtra. Getting Ramsar tag assumes significance for conservation of wetlands in a dedicated manner. Besides playing a key role in hydrological cycle and flood control, wetlands provide water, food, fibre and raw materials. Wetlands support lakhs of migratory birds.
Created to supply water to Agra city in the summer, Sur Sarovar has become an important ecological site that provides refuge to migratory birds and more than 60 species of fish. Lonar Lake was formed by a meteorite impact on the basalt bedrock.
2021: Ramsar Tag For 2 Haryana Wetlands
Ipsita Pati, August 11, 2021: The Times of India
From: Ipsita Pati, August 11, 2021: The Times of India
For the first time, two wetlands of Haryana — Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary in Jhajjar — have been included in the Ramsar list. The number of protected Ramsar sites in India has now gone up to 46, with two more from Gujarat being included this year.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance that have been designated under the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971. The Ramsar status gives wetlands legal protection and guidelines for management and will supplement Haryana’s efforts to ensure their conservation.
The inclusion of the two wetlands was announced on the Ramsar secretariat’s website last week, while the state wildlife department said a final notification from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change could come on August 15. Haryana has some1,441 wetlands, but none were protected under the Ramsar treaty till now, according to data from the ministry.
The forest department had recommended Sultanpur and Bhindawas wetlands for the Ramsar tag on February 2, World Wetlands Day. While Sultanpur National Park is spread across 353 acres, Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary covers more than 1,000 acres. Both wetlands are natural homes to a wealth of bird species and attract a large number of migratory birds every year, including the black-winged stilt, pond heron, pied kingfisher, purple heron, shoveller, whitebreasted waterhen, whitebreasted kingfisher and prinia.
According to the Ramsar document, “Sultanpur wetland harbours a rich plant and animal life: it 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.”
Meanwhile, the Bhindawas wetland provides a safe habitat to numerous animals and plants, the document said. A total of 265 species of birds have been reported from the site. More than 30,000 migratory birds belonging to over 250 species visit Bhindawas throughout the year, the document noted.
Haryana is awaiting the notification of the two sites getting the Ramsar tag from the Centre. “We had forwarded all required paperwork to the environment ministry. Subsequently, it sent a proposal to the Ramsar secretariat in Switzerland. All required documentation is complete. We are still awaiting the notification from the ministry, which will most likely be announced on August 15,” said ML Malik, chief conservator of forest (wildlife), south Haryana.
