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Dhanauri Wetland: A Bureaucratic Labyrinth Hinders Ramsar Tag
16 Apr
Summary
- Dhanauri hosts 217 bird species, including the sarus crane.
- Supreme Court ordered wetland protection in 2017.
- Despite directives, UP has not declared Dhanauri a wetland.
Dhanauri, a significant bird habitat in Greater Noida, is home to nearly 217 species, including the sarus crane, Uttar Pradesh's state bird. This area meets criteria for Ramsar Convention recognition as a wetland of international importance. However, official declaration and protection have been stalled by bureaucratic processes.
In 2017, the Supreme Court mandated the protection of mapped wetlands, reinforcing rules against reclamation and ecological disruption. Despite this and subsequent directives from the National Green Tribunal following a 2023 petition, Uttar Pradesh has not formally declared Dhanauri a wetland.
The process to obtain a Ramsar tag for Dhanauri has been mired in delays, with state officials providing explanations rather than progress to the NGT. Environmentalists allege that bureaucratic inertia and potential real estate interests are hindering the designation.
This contrasts sharply with the rapid approval of the Noida International Airport, which received in-principle approval in May 2018 and environmental clearance in March 2020. A conservation plan for the sarus crane and peacocks was mandated before airport operations could begin.
The Ramsar Convention, established in 1975, promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands globally. Designating Dhanauri would support biodiversity conservation efforts, but bureaucratic hurdles persist, leaving the fate of this vital habitat uncertain.
