Between Development And Ecology: The Legal Framework For Wetland Protection In India
Gurvinder Singh, Assistant Professor & Research Scholar, Department of Law, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa
ABSTRACT
Wetlands are among the most ecologically productive ecosystems on Earth, yet they remain among the most legally vulnerable in India. Despite hosting nearly 20% of the world's Ramsar-designated sites, India continues to lose its natural wetlands at an alarming rate due to urbanization, infrastructure development, and agricultural conversion. This paper critically examines the legal framework governing wetland protection in India, tracing its evolution from the Environment Protection Act, 1986, through the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 and 2017, to the landmark Supreme Court judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union of India (2024). The paper argues that while India's wetland jurisprudence has advanced significantly — particularly through judicial activism — a persistent implementation gap, ambiguous statutory definitions, and conflicting land- use classifications undermine conservation efforts. Through an analysis of key judgments and select case studies, this paper identifies critical legal and institutional deficiencies and offers recommendations for a more coherent, enforceable, and ecologically sound wetland protection regime in India.
Keywords: Wetland Protection in India, Environmental Law, Wetlands, Judicial Activism, Implementation Gap, Sustainable Development.
