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The loss of wetland leads to ecological and economic collapse
Updated On: 20 February, 2023 08:10 PM IST | Mumbai | Nidhi Lodaya
Expert says the ripple effect starts with water shortage
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Ritesh Kumar, South Asia Head of Wetlands International.
ACCORDING to recent estimates by Wetlands International (WI) two out of every five wetlands in India have been lost in the last 30 years. The report by the global NGO highlights the diminishing wetlands in Delhi and Chennai, Ritesh Kumar, its South Asia Head, says all wetlands around India are at risk.
A national study in 2020 by WI South Asia showed that among 22 Indian cities, Mumbai had lost the maximum number of wetlands—71 per cent in 44 years. India has 7.7 lakh wetlands—5.5 lakh small ones and 2.2 lakh large ones covering 2.2 hectares. “Wetlands are aquatic systems,” says Kumar during a video interview with Sunday mid-day. “To destroy a wetland, invested parties have been changing the topography: Water flowing to the wetlands is diverted and polluted.” Conservation attempts are few and inadequate—mass tree planting drives are carried on wetlands and smart cities construct concrete structures near shores, despite including wetlands in sustainable ventures. Kumar also believes that people’s relationship with nature has changed.
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