NGT raps 3 states over wetland neglect, orders demarcation

Bhopal: In a ruling that holds much significance for the protection and conservation of wetlands in three states under its jurisdiction, the NGT central bench directed the state wetland authorities (SWAs) in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan to complete the demarcation process and raise boundary walls on priority.The green tribunal also sought a progress and compliance report by the next hearing on May 11.The direction came in response to a petition filed by Sobran Yadav, a concerned citizen, citing the pathetic state of six wetlands in the Tikamgarh district. The plea claimed blatant encroachment, dumping of solid waste, unauthorised farming and discharge of untreated water in these wetlands, seeking urgent intervention by the green panel.The NGT bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, upheld the petitioner's contention that there were serious violations of Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 in Tikamgarh. The violations were also flagged in the report of the joint committee constituted by the NGT to examine the status of the six Tikamgarh wetlands — Mahendra Sagar, Brandavan Talab (Jheer Ki Bagiya), Gwal Sagar, Hanuman Sagar, Maharaj Sagar and Shell Sagar.Acting on the report, the tribunal, in August, 2025, passed certain directions to the district collector, the chief municipal officer of Tikamgarh and the water resource development department to ensure safeguarding of these wetlands."No sincere efforts are being made by the Tikamgarh collector, water resource development department and the chief municipal officer to comply with the directions of this tribunal in implementation of the Wetland rules, 2017, with regard to the protection and conservation of six wetlands," the NGT central bench had observed then.It stated that in compliance with the Supreme Court order of Dec 11, 2024, the Union ministry of environment, forest & climate change had issued a memorandum for completing ground truthing and demarcation of wetland boundaries identified by the Space Applications Centre Atlas (SAC Atlas), 2021, expeditiously.Responding to the latest plea, the NGT said considering the serious environmental violations, "the state wetland authorities in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are directed to complete the demarcation and erect boundary pillars around wetlands within these areas on priority and file progress report before the next date of hearing on May 11, 2026."