Tikri Khurd Lake and Delhi’s Water Bodies

Context

Tikri Khurd Lake in Delhi remains unnotified as a wetland despite NGT directions and WAD recommendations, highlighting administrative inaction. This exemplifies the broader failure to implement the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, in Delhi.

Tikri Khurd Lake:

Spread across ~40 acres in Narela, under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Recognized by WAD as a water body based on ground-truthing and technical committee recommendations (2021).
DDA opposes its notification, calling it merely a “low-lying sewer water accumulation area.”
NGT (March 29, 2019): Directed conservation regardless of technical classification; criticized DDA for shifting responsibility.

Encroachment & Legal Challenges:

Over 22% (232 of 1,045) recorded water bodies are proposed for deletion due to encroachment.
Lack of legal protection without formal wetland notification facilitates this loss.

Ecological Significance of Wetlands:

Serve critical roles in groundwater recharge, flood mitigation, water purification, and urban microclimate regulation.
Urban wetlands like Tikri Khurd help prevent waterlogging and floods, especially during monsoon.

Issue of Inter-agency Conflict:

Delhi's multiple agencies (DDA, Revenue Dept., DJB, WAD) operate in silos.
Institutional turf wars delay conservation decisions, as evident in Tikri Khurd case.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) Role:

Acts as a judicial authority for environmental governance.
Has consistently reprimanded agencies like DDA for non-compliance in wetland conservation.

Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017:

Framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Mandates each State/UT to establish a State Wetland Authority.
Requires identification, inventory, and notification of all wetlands.
Wetlands include water bodies such as lakes, ponds, marshes, and even man-made reservoirs if they meet ecological criteria.

Wetland Authority of Delhi (WAD):

Established as per the Rules.
Responsible for delineation, notification, protection, and rejuvenation of wetlands.
Yet to notify any wetland officially.

PYQ:

With reference to the ‘Wetlands of India’, consider the following statements: (2020)

1. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

2. The Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) was constituted under these Rules.

3. India has more than 40 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Socialism and Secularism

Polity

Custodial Torture in India