Now Reading: Three Kasganj wetlands get legal protection in UP gazette
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Three Kasganj wetlands get legal protection in UP gazette
Three wetlands in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district, Bastauli Brahmpur, Ram Chhitouni and Sikandarpur Khurd, have been officially entered in the state gazette, granting them legal protection. The notification prohibits construction, waste dumping and encroachment in these areas, according to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
Spread across Patiyali and Sahawar, the wetlands cover 5.8, 4.6 and 9.6 hectares respectively. They are replenished by rainwater and groundwater, support local biodiversity, migratory birds and aquatic life, and sustain livelihoods through fish farming and agriculture. Ram Chhitouni also holds religious significance, linked to the ashram of Maharishi Valmiki.
The Kasganj district administration had issued a preliminary notification on May 21 inviting objections until July 21. NMCG announced the final gazette notification on Wednesday, making the three wetlands legally protected zones under state law.
Indian Opinion Analysis
This notification plugs a gap: of over 2,000 wetlands inventoried in Uttar Pradesh, fewer than a third have legal protection under the UP Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2020. The three sites are small but critical for groundwater recharge in the drought-prone Bundelkhand fringe. With construction and dumping now banned, the real test will be enforcement, local bodies often lack resources to patrol such scattered water bodies. The next step is preparation of a wetland management plan for each site, due within six months, which will decide permissible activities like fishing or tourism.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
