Context

The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of ?10 crore on the Kerala government for its failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the listed Ramsar sites.

Key-highlights of the Order:

• The order by NGT was made in lines with a petition alleging failure of statutory and administrative authorities in taking remedial action for protection of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes hit by illegal waste dumping.

• The penalty was imposed on the basis of the ‘polluter pays principle’ which had to be deposited in a ring-fenced account to be operated under the authority of the Chief Secretary.
• The penalty of ?10 crore has been imposed which had to be made within a month.
• The penalty will be utilised for conservation/restoration measures by preparing an action plan to be preferably executed within six months.

About Ramsar Sites:

• These are wetlands deemed to be of "international importance" under the Ramsar Convention.
• It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in
• Ramsar sites are trans-boundary in which case more than one Contracting Party is responsible for their conservation and management.
• The inclusion in the list is for-
  • the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands,
  • recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their
  • Economic value
  • Cultural value
  • Scientific value
  • Recreational value
• It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.