Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India's wetlands of…

Wetlands—transitional ecosystems offering vital services such as biodiversity support, flood attenuation, water purification, and carbon sequestration—are critical to India’s ecological security. To arrest their degradation, the Government of India launched the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) in 1985–86 (now integrated into the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems), operationalised through the MoEFCC and the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Evaluation of the Programme The NWCP established the principle of "wise use" and decentralized governance through State Wetland Authorities (SWAs). Its major success lies in mainstreaming conservation and expanding India’s network of Ramsar Sites from 26 to around 100 (2026), supported by the Amrit Dharohar scheme (2023), fostering global recognition and targeted funding.

However, the programme’s efficacy is constrained by institutional and enforcement deficits. Most SWAs remain under-resourced, and comprehensive digital inventories for non-notified wetlands are lacking. Key sites suffer from acute urban encroachment and real-estate pressure (notably in the East Kolkata Wetlands), agricultural runoff, solid waste pollution, and altered hydrological regimes exacerbated by climate change.

Key Ramsar Sites in India India’s representative wetlands of international importance span diverse biogeographical zones:

• Chilika Lake (Odisha) – Asia’s largest brackish lagoon.
• Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) – A critical avian habitat.
• Sundarbans Wetland (West Bengal) – The world's largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem.
• Loktak Lake (Manipur) – Famous for its unique floating phumdis.
• Vembanad-Kol (Kerala) – Kerala's largest wetland system.
• Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir) – One of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia.

While the NWCP provided a vital foundational framework, realizing its potential requires empowering SWAs with statutory teeth, integrating wetlands into urban planning schemes like AMRUT, and fostering community-led stewardship.