Mass fish Death in Delhi’s Sanjay Lake in May 2026 due to Mismanagement

May 26, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Mass fish death in Sanjay lake. Source: TIE)

Several reports in past few days have attributed the mass fish death incident in Sanjay Lake of Mayur Vihar phase II in East Delhi to the ongoing intense heat spell also linking it to adverse impacts of climate change.

However, following updates and a ground visit by concerned citizens reveal the primary reason to be a sharp decline in lake’s water levels for past few weeks. This raises serious questions about the sorry state of affairs concerning management of lakes in the national capital.

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2025: People’s Actions to Protect, Restore Wetlands in India

February 21, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Citizens under Save Kavesar Lake campaign carrying out a march in Thane in June 2025. Source: Manohar Dumbre FB Post)

This final 2025 India Wetlands overview documents wetland-related developments during 2025 & highlights remarkable actions by individuals, community and citizen groups to protect lakes and water bodies across India during past one year. It also covers some encouraging and collective efforts undertaken to reclaim and revive degraded wetlands. Together, these inspiring stories reflect on growing awareness among people that wetlands are vital for water security, flood protection and climate resilience.

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Wetlands

WWD 2026: Top Ten Judicial Interventions to Protect Wetlands in India

February 3, 2026 SANDRP2 Comments

Marking the World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026, this overview presents top ten interventions by judiciary to protect the wetlands in India during 2025 so far. Apart from this, there have been several wetlands protection related court cases going on across the country during the year and reports of some of the relevant matters can be seen here. The judiciary has also been pursuing cases pertaining to conservation of several Ramsar wetlands in the country as covered in the first part of the overview here.

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Wetlands

WWD 2026: Govts Wetlands Protection Actions mostly fail to convince

January 31, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: An aerial shot of Madambakkam lake in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu shows buildings on the banks of the waterbody: Source)

On occasion of World’s Wetlands Day 2026, this overview compiles top ten reports from 2025 covering decisions and steps taken by various state governments for the protection of wetlands in India. There could be some more relevant reports which we could not track and compile. The first part and second part of the overview have covered the continual degradation of Ramsar sites and other wetlands across the country.

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Wetlands

WWD 2026: Top Ten Reports on Our continued Failure to Identify, Protect Wetlands

January 30, 2026February 2, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Vegetation layer covering entire surface of Giri taal of Kashipur in US Nagar, Uttarakhand in Oct. 2025)

While the World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026 on February 02 will be celebrated with “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage” theme, the top ten reports about wetlands in India in one year since 2025 WWD shows our collective failure in protecting both the traditional knowledge and cultural heritage concerning Indian wetlands. At national level, the progess of identification and notification process of wetlands over 2.25 ha is very slow. Official health cards of very few wetlands are in public domain.

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Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2026: India’s Ramsar Sites Facing Threats

January 29, 2026February 3, 2026 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Dead fish floating on Ashtamudi Lake at Kadavur in Kollam in last week of Oct. 2025)

“Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage” is theme for global World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026 celebrated annually on Feb 2. On the occasion, we share reports about 21 Ramsar wetlands from various Indian states underlining the worsening plight of Ramsar sites in India. This does not necessarily mean that the Ramsar wetlands not listed here are in any better state, it only means that media attention has not brought their stories in public domain with sufficient prominence. The state of Ramsar wetlands in India clearly shows complete lack of any governance in place to ensure that the Ramsar sites get protection from degradation, threats and destruction. Worryingly, even Ramsar Convention seems completely disinterested in doing anything to ensure protection of the wetlands that get Ramsar tag.

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2024: Approach to Restore Bengaluru Lakes

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: -Doddakallasandra Lake on Kanakapura Road in Southern Bengaluru. Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K/ The Hindu/Jan. 2025)

The lakes in Bengaluru have often been in the news for the froth, fish kills, encroachments and pollution related issues and the year 2024 has been no different amid growing concerns and govt attempts to restore them. In fact, despite NGT orders and huge amount spent by the govt, the restoration works of Bellandur, Varthur, Yele Mallappa Shetty, Madiwala and Hosakerehalli lakes have not been completed.

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Wetlands

Mumbai Civil Society Efforts to Protect Mangroves, Wetlands

March 7, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: On World Migratory Bird Day, May 11, 2024, green groups formed a human chain to protest against the ‘deliberate destruction’ of flamingo homes – wetlands. Source: FPJ)

Like previous years, several civil society groups in Mumbai have continued their remarkable efforts dedicated towards protection and conservation of the mangroves and wetlands throughout 2024. While their untiring efforts have met with some successes, given the hostile agencies and increasing developmental pressures the threats to mangroves and wetlands continue to increase. Despite growing challenges, their undying spirit offers inspiration to other civil society groups in the country. This report tracks the top ten developments regarding the subject beginning with broader issues impacting the future of mangroves and wetlands in the city and the documenting specific cases of DPS Flamingo Lake, Ulwe, Nerul, Kharghar, Panje and other wetlands.

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Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2025: Ten Positive Stories from Urban India

February 4, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Dharmesh Barai, who leads the NGO Environment Life Foundation (ELF), began the “Mangrove Clean-Up Drive” on August 15. Source: TIE)

This compilation highlights ten positive efforts put in to protect the lakes, waterbodies and mangroves in urban India by individuals and environmental groups during 2024. The top ten stories come from five metros: Delhi (3), Mumbai (2), Bengaluru (2), Chennai (2) and Kolkata (1). We are sure such positive actions also happened in other cities in 2024, but we could not find them.

We have also compiled the top ten positive wetlands reports from the countryside here. Also see overviews on the worsening plight of Ramsar wetlands, deteriorating situation of wetlands in India in general and some important judicial interventions concerning protection and management of wetlands in the country that have taken place during the past one year.

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Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2025: Top Ten Positive Actions & Reports

February 3, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Villagers plant mangrove saplings in an island off Kudikadu village in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district. Credit: The Print)

Marking the World Wetlands Day 2025, this article carries top ten positive reports from 2024 on protection and conservation of wetlands in India. The overview highlights some remarkable steps taken by individuals, community groups, governments for restoration of wetlands, lakes, waterbodies and mangroves in the country during the past year. We have also published three overviews on the issue including the situation of Ramsar wetlands, other wetlands and important judicial decisions regarding management of wetlands in the country.

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