The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to carry out an intensive identification drive of wetlands, also known as Ramsar Convention sites, in Meghalaya.
A division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said, “If Ramsar sites are identified they may be forthwith notified. Considering the fact that the order of the Supreme Court was made on 11th December, 2024, this exercise has to be made expeditiously.”
The drive will be carried out by the Meghalaya State Wetland Authority and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) Department of Forests and Environment.
During the hearing Senior Government Advocate N.G. Shylla submitted before the court that the entire body of wetlands or waterbodies may not have been inspected by the State. She requested the court to allow the State to make a thorough identification of the Ramsar sites, which may have escaped inspection and identification.
The court asked Shylla to file a report before April 29, 2025 and granted six weeks time for the government to complete the exercise.
The Registrar General has also been directed to appoint a counsel to represent the High Court in the Supreme Court for a hearing on conservation and preservation of wetlands on March 25, 2025.
In December 2024, the SC had noted in its order that, as per Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India had 2, 01,503 wetlands with an area of more than 2.25 hectares prior to 2017. As per ISRO, the number of wetlands had increased to 2,31,195 in 2021.
