INDIA GREENS PARTY
Press Statement
Issued at New Delhi on 2 February 2025
The India Greens Party (IGP) observes World Wetlands Day with deep concern over the rapid degradation of India’s wetlands, which serve as vital ecosystems for biodiversity, climate resilience, and water conservation.
On this occasion today, the party calls upon the Modi Government to take urgent and concrete steps to safeguard these fragile ecosystems, particularly in light of the recent interim order of the Supreme Court in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Anand Arya & Others (WP Civil 304/2018).
Mr Kailash Anerao, Co-President of the party, pointed out that the Supreme Court’s verdict underscored the urgent need for effective protection and preservation of the neglected wetlands and their riparian zones across the country.
“The ruling affirms that all wetlands, regardless of their inclusion under the Ramsar Convention, are essential for maintaining ecological balance and must be safeguarded against encroachment, industrial pollution, and unregulated concretisation under the guise of beautification projects.” Mr Anerao added.
In view of this, the India Greens Party urges the Modi Government to implement the following measures with immediate effect:
- Strict Implementation of the Supreme Court Verdict – The government must ensure that all the directions laid down by the Supreme Court are fully implemented, including timebound scientific mapping, demarcation, notification, and protection of all wetlands and their riparian, catchment & buffer zones.
- Enforcement of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 – The government must strengthen the enforcement of these rules by reversing dilutions in law and ensuring that state governments and local authorities take proactive measures in protecting wetlands from illegal encroachments, pollution, and industrial exploitation.
- Creation of Wetland Protection Authorities – A dedicated National Wetland Protection Authority and State Wetland Protection Committees must be established with independent powers to enforce conservation measures, regulate developmental activities in and around wetlands, and monitor ecological restoration efforts.
- Banning of Encroachments and Land-Use Conversions – Wetlands must be shielded from urbanization, real estate expansion, and industrial development. Government agencies must ensure demolition of illegal structures and restoration of the encroached wetlands and their catchment zones based on “Polluter pays Principle”.
- Community Involvement and Public Awareness – Conservation of wetlands must be a participatory process, engaging local communities, indigenous groups, and environmental activists in wetland protection and restoration projects.
- Allocation of Dedicated Funds for Wetland Restoration – The Union Budget must include a special provision for wetland conservation, ensuring that ecological wetland restoration projects receive adequate funding and are monitored for long-term sustainability and water conservation for future generations.
- Sustainable Development Approach – Wetlands should be integrated into rural and urban planning strategies, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions such as wetland and riparian zone rejuvenation, afforestation of water catchment & buffer zones to mitigate the impact of climate change.
- Implement penal provisions – Govt authorities and Courts should not only take strict penal & criminal action against all the violators of Wetland Rules, 2017 who destroy, pollute or encroach on wetlands but also suspend govt officials who ignore Court judgements on wetlands and abet their destruction.
The India Greens Party reiterates that wetlands and marshlands are not wastelands; they are essential lifelines for biodiversity, water security, and climate resilience on par with rainforests. Therefore, on this World Wetlands Day, we call upon the Modi Government to act decisively and honor its constitutional & international duty to protect India’s invaluable wetland ecosystems for present and future generations.
– Issued by Suresh Nautiyal, Chief Spokesperson of iGP
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(India Greens Party is registered with the Election Commission of India under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Registration Number: 56/476/2018-19/PPS-I, effective from 18/07/2019.)
National Head Office: GreenDham AnandiChait, IndraBalbhadra Parisar, Unchir-Dunktok, SH-31, PO-Ghurdauri, Distt-Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, INDIA. PIN-246194.
Email: contact@indiagreensparty.org Website: https://indiagreensparty.org
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