The criticisms of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on January 30 about the report of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), set up under the Environment Protection Act 1986 in late 1990s is rather mild and seems symbolic, but it has the potential of open up a pandora’s box since CGWA has essentially totally failed in doing anything effective about groundwater regulation in India.
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2025: Mumbai’s Wetlands & Mangroves Need Urgent Proactive Governance
(Feature Image: Residents & activists gather at Lotus Lake pledging to protect the wetland from illegal dumping. Source)
Like previous years, the structural failures in the governance of Mumbai’s wetlands, lakes, and mangroves were laid bare in 2025 also. While citizens demonstrated extraordinary vigilance and courts delivered occasional relief, the action and inaction of state developmental agencies continued enabling their degradation.
The declaration of DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul as a Conservation Reserve in April 2025 was indeed a hard-won victory. Yet, this achievement was swiftly undermined when CIDCO passed a resolution to pursue de-reservation of the very same wetland.
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Delhi’s Waterbodies Going Extinct Under Govt. Watch
(Feature Image: A wetland near Jharoda in Wazirabad has been destroyed by dumping of municipal waste over past two years. Source)
This overview tracking wetlands related developments in Delhi shows that the plight of water bodies, lakes, village ponds has only worsened over the past year. Of the 1,367 water bodies officially recorded, only 674 are visible on the ground, underscoring the failure of govt departments to protect these vital resources. Even the surviving water bodies are under threat, gradually being lost to brazen encroachments, waste dumping and unregulated construction under the watch of the very agencies responsible for their upkeep. And the systematic destruction is happening amid multiple ongoing judicial interventions particularly in the NGT.
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WWD 2026: Top Ten Judicial Interventions to Protect Wetlands in India
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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DRP 020226: Karnataka High Court Monitored Probe into sand mining menace?
An interesting sequence of events in Karnataka has led to the High Court Chief Justice taking up a suo moto case and suggesting a court monitored probe into the illegal sand mining menace in the state. One hopes this leads to a proper independent investigation, monitored by the High Court, culminating in ensuring community have the key role in monitoring and compliance of sand mining in their respective area, since that is the most important missing link in governance of sand mining.
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WWD 2026: Govts Wetlands Protection Actions mostly fail to convince
(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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DRP 291225: Looking back on 2025, Looking forward to 2026
(Feature Image: Ramganga river at Marchula on Nov. 03, 2025. SANDRP)
As the year 2025 ends, reflecting on the DRP related developments over the year and even in this last DRP of 2025, one cannot but see largely pessimistic situation for India’s Rivers, Water Bodies, Hills and Mountains, Floodplains, and for the environment in general. As we saw during South West Monsoon 2025, the flood disasters have been so severe that the number of deaths in South Ais are the highest among all climate disasters of 2025 according to the just released Christian Aid report. The spread, intensity and frequency of the disasters are only going to increase, but we, including the government and the society seems to show little sincerity in dealing with this.
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DRP 221225: Is it so difficult to understand the importance of Aravalli Mountains?
(Feature Image: Aravalli mountain ranges along the Bewar-Jaipur stretch. Credit.)
Why is it so difficult, for the Union Govt, MoEF, its experts, but most shockingly, for the Supreme Court to understand the importance of Aravalli Mountains – India’s most ancient and ecologically sensitive range? What exactly is driving the unacceptable decision of the apex court? According to the Forest Survey of India, applying the new definition would result in only around 8.7% of the mapped Aravalli landforms being eligible for protection, leaving a substantial portion unregulated.
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DRP 151225: Hydro Projects continue to provide troubling news
(Feature Image: Ongoing work at Ratle HEP in June 2025. Source)
There are troubling news reports about a number of hydropower projects, even as the hydro industry tries its best to present a positive picture. NHPC tries to say that one of its 250 MW units at the Subansiri Lower HEP is good news. However, the fact that WII’s several years old recommendation that project should not be used for peaking power generation till studies about its impact on elephant corridor are complete. But the WII recommendation presented at the National Wildlife Board over 22 months ago is yet to be implemented. The serious financial trouble that the project is in, is also apparent from its desperate attempt to use the forest land as collateral, rejected by MoEF. The closing down of the NHPC office for the Subansisi Upper HEP in Upper Subansiri district came following agitation by the students Union and others there opposing the project.
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DRP 081225: India Needs Effective Measures to Check Sedimentation of Dams
(Feature Image: Despite HC orders, NHAI, Railways continue illegal dumping of landslide debris. Source)
In a reply in Lok Sabha on Dec. 04, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has revealed that 24 reservoirs in Punjab (14), Himachal Pradesh (9) and Haryana (1) have collectively lost about one fifth of their storage capacity due to sedimentation. Indeed, for years the sedimentation has become a major problem reducing the storage capacity of dams across the country. As a solution the respective governments have mainly relied on desilting which has largely remained limited to plans and in some cases have not achieved the intended purpose. In case of Bhakra the central govt has again mainly focused on desilting as solution.
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