Problems with Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016

New set of rules for the conservation of wetlands in India has come up in 2016 as the earlier rules were not successfully implemented. Why are these new rules controversial and attracting protests from wildlife and nature conservation organisations?

The rules for the conservation of wetlands given in 2010 covered extensively the methods to adopt to save the wetlands. They talked about construction activity around wetlands, protecting other eco sensitive sites as well, etc. but the new rules either do not talk about various protection methods or have eased the norms around activities like construction. These changes could bring havoc to the ecosystems of wetlands.

The biggest controversy however is not the changes in rules but the allocation of tasks of conservation to State governments from the Central government. This gives absolute power to states and the center will only provide suggestions for the protection of wetlands. This opens the wetland sites to exploitation and it will become even more difficult to prevent activities like construction in and around wetlands.

So, the rules under Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016 although brought to stop the delayed and ineffective implementation of the 2010 rules are actually counter-productive and will further degrade the essential natural wetlands.