Supreme Court order comes as a boon for Navi Mumbai wetlands
The ruling comes as a response to an intervention application filed by Vanashakti and Anand Arya, campaigners for wetland conservation.
The SC highlighted the critical role wetlands play in supporting local ecosystems and urged state authorities to act promptly. Navi Mumbai residents and environmentalists hope the judgment will ensure that the city’s wetlands are safeguarded against further degradation, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
The Supreme Court’s directive on Wednesday to protect over 2.31 lakh wetlands across the country has given new hope for Navi Mumbai’s ecologically significant NRI, DPS and TS Chanakya wetlands. These wetlands, mapped by ISRO in 2021, will now fall under the protective ambit of the court’s judgment.
On Wednesday, an SC bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed state wetland authorities to demarcate and verify all wetlands larger than 2.25 hectares within three months. The ruling comes as a response to an intervention application filed by Vanashakti and Anand Arya, campaigners for wetland conservation.
Stalin D, convenor of Vanashakti, noted that while the judgment is a positive step, challenges remain in its execution. “The judgment is most welcome but at a practical level, I believe government authorities might find loopholes in its implementation. However, the good part is that the two lakh wetlands identified in the first phase will now be protected under this order, marking a positive beginning,” he said.
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