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VEMBANAD LAKE AND ASHTAMUDI LAKE

31st March, 2023

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Context

  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in March 2023, imposed a penalty of Rs 10 crore on the Kerala government for failing to protect the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, which are included in the Ramsar list of wetlands.

About Vembanad Lake

  • Kottayam has a vast network of rivers and canals, which empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake, a fast developing backwater tourism
  • Traditional Cargo boats called Kettuvallams are modified into Cruise boats and House boats.
  • In the Vembanad Lake there is a small beautiful island called Pathiramanal or the Midnight sands.
  • The serene lakes come alive during Onam with a spectacular water regatta – the snake boat races.

About Ashtamudi Lake

  • It is located in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala.
  • It is the most visited backwater lake in the state.
  • It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body, second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state.
  • Ashtamudi means 'eight braids' in the local Malayalam language.
  • The name is indicative of the lake's topography with its multiple branches.
  • The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is well known for its houseboat and backwater resorts.
  • Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
  • In 2014, the Clam Governing Council of Ashtamudi lake became the first Marine Stewardship Council certified fishery in India for their sustainable clam fishing.

National Green Tribunal

About the tribunal

  • It is a Statutory Body under National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act 2010.
  • It ensures environmental justice.
  • It is not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure; it is guided by principles of natural justice.
  • Disposal of applications within 6 months.

Members

  • Currently, 10 expert members and 10 judicial members (the Act allows for up to 20 of each).
  • Only a Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of a High Court Can be appointed as Chairman.
  • Members are chosen by a Selection Committee (headed by a sitting judge of SC).
    • Judicial members are chosen from applicants who are serving or retired judges of High Courts.
    • Expert members are chosen from applicants who are either serving or retired bureaucrats, not below the rank of an Additional Secretary.
  • Expert members must have a doctorate in a related field.
  • Chairman and members term of 5 yrs and are not eligible for re-appointment.

Powers

  • NGT pass orders or provides compensation under:
    • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
    • Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, Forest (Conservation) Act.
    • Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
    • Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
    • Public Liability Insurance Act 1991.
    • Biological Diversity Act 2002.

Places of Sittings

  • The act proposed to set up 5 places of sittings:
    • New Delhi
    • Bhopal
    • Pune
    • Kolkata
    • Chennai

About Ramsar Sites

What are wetlands?

  • Wetlands, according to the Environment Ministry, are an “area of marsh, fen, peatland or water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/ tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.”

What is a Ramsar site?

  • Any wetland site which has been listed under the Ramsar Convention that aims to conserve it and promote sustainable use of its natural resourcesis called a Ramsar Site.
  • Ramsar Convention is known as the Convention of Wetlands. It was established in 1971 by UNESCO and came into force in 1975.
  • India is a party to the Ramsar Convention. India signed under it on 1st February 1982.

Conditions to be a Ramsar site

  • To be Ramsar site, it must meet at least one of nine criteria as defined by the Ramsar Convention of 1961, such as supporting vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities or, if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds or, is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks are dependent upon.

Ramsar sites in India

  • Sundarbans is the largest Ramsar Site of India
  • Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India
  • Uttar Pradesh has the most number of Ramsar Sites in India.
  • Renuka Wetland in Himachal Pradesh is the smallest wetland of India.

 

Ramsar Wetlands Sites (As on November, 2022)

S. No.

State Location

Name of Site

Date of Declaration

Area 

1

Andhra Pradesh

Kolleru Lake

19.8.2002

901.00

2

Assam

Deepor Beel

19.8.2002

40.00

3

Bihar

Kabartal Wetland

21.07.2020

26.20

4

Goa

Nanda Lake

06.08.2022

0.42

5

Gujarat

Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary

13.04.2021

5.12

6

Gujarat

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

24.09.2012

120.00

7

Gujarat

Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

05.04.2021

6.99

8

Gujarat

Wadhvana Wetland

05.04.2021

6.30

9

Haryana

Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

25.05.2021

4.12

10

Haryana

Sultanpur National Park

25.05.2021

1.43

11

Himachal Pradesh

Chandertal Wetland

8.11.2005

0.49

12

Himachal Pradesh

Pong Dam Lake

19.8.2002

156.62

13

Himachal Pradesh

Renuka Wetland

8.11.2005

0.20

14

Jammu and Kashmir

Hokera Wetland

8.11.2005

13.75

15

Jammu and Kashmir

Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve

13.08.2022

8.02

16

Jammu and Kashmir

Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve

13.08.2022

16.75

17

Jammu and Kashmir

Surinsar-Mansar Lakes

8.11.2005

3.50

18

Jammu and Kashmir

Wular Lake

23.3.1990

189.00

19

Karnataka

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

15.02.2022

5.18

20

Kerala

Asthamudi Wetland

19.8.2002

61.40

21

Kerala

Sasthamkotta Lake

19.8.2002

3.73

22

Kerala

Vembanad Kol Wetland

19.8.2002

1512.50

23

Ladakh

Tso Kar Wetland Complex

17.11.2020

95.77

24

Ladakh

Tsomoriri Lake

19.8.2002

120.00

25

Madhya Pradesh

Bhoj Wetlands

19.8.2002

32.01

26

Madhya Pradesh

Sakhya Sagar

01.07.2022

2.48

27

Madhya Pradesh

Sirpur Wetland

01.07.2022

1.61

28

Madhya Pradesh

Yashwant Sagar

13.08.2022

8.23

29

Maharashtra

Lonar Lake

22.7.2020

4.27

30

Maharashtra

Nandur Madhameshwar

21.6.2019

14.37

31

Maharashtra

Thane Creek

13.08.2022

65.21

32

Manipur

Loktak Lake

23.3.1990

266.00

33

Mizoram

Pala Wetland

31.08.2021

18.50

34

Odisha

Ansupa Lake

13.08.2022

2.31

35

Odisha

Bhitarkanika Mangroves

19.8.2002

650.00

36

Odisha

Chilka Lake

1.10.1981

1165.00

37

Odisha

Hirakud Reservoir

13.08.2022

654.00

38

Odisha

Satkosia Gorge

10.12.2021

981.97

39

Odisha

Tampara Lake

13.08.2022

3.00

40

Punjab

Beas Conservation Reserve

26.9.2019

64.29

41

Punjab

Harike Lake

23.3.1990

41.00

42

Punjab

Kanjli Lake

22.1.2002

1.83

43

Punjab

Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve

26.9.2019

3.44

44

Punjab

Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary

26.9.2019

1.16

45

Punjab

Ropar Lake

22.1.2002

13.65

46

Rajasthan

Keoladeo Ghana NP

1.10.1981

28.73

47

Rajasthan

Sambhar Lake

23.3.1990

240.00

48

Tamil Nadu

Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary

13.08.2022

2.60

49

Tamil Nadu

Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve

04.08.2022

526.72

50

Tamil Nadu

Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary

13.08.2022

0.97

51

Tamil Nadu

Karikili Bird Sanctuary

04.08.2022

0.58

52

Tamil Nadu

Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary

11.08.2021

0.72

53

Tamil Nadu

Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest

04.08.2022

12.48

54

Tamil Nadu

Pichavaram Mangrove

04.08.2022

14.79

55

Tamil Nadu

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

19.8.2002

385.00

56

Tamil Nadu

Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex

13.08.2022

0.94

57

Tamil Nadu

Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary

04.08.2022

0.44

58

Tamil Nadu

Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary

13.08.2022

1.13

59

Tamil Nadu

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

04.08.2022

0.40

60

Tamil Nadu

Vellode Bird Sanctuary

04.08.2022

0.77

61

Tamil Nadu

Vembannur Wetland Complex

04.08.2022

0.20

62

Tripura

Rudrasagar Lake

8.11.2005

2.40

63

Uttar Pradesh

Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary

29.06.2021

28.94

64

Uttar Pradesh

Haiderpur Wetland

8.12.2021

69.08

65

Uttar Pradesh

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

19.9.2019

2.25

66

Uttar Pradesh

Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary

2.12.2019

7.22

67

Uttar Pradesh

Saman Bird Sanctuary

2.12.2019

5.26

68

Uttar Pradesh

Samaspur Bird Sanctuary

3.10.2019

7.99

69

Uttar Pradesh

Sandi Bird Sanctuary

26.9.2019

3.09

70

Uttar Pradesh

Sarsai Nawar Jheel

19.9.2019

1.61

71

Uttar Pradesh

Sur Sarovar

21.8.2020

4.31

72

Uttar Pradesh

Upper Ganga River

8.11.2005

265.90

73

Uttarakhand

Asan Conservation Reserve

21.7.2020

4.44

74

West Bengal

East Kolkata Wetlands

19.8.2002

125.00

75

West Bengal

Sunderbans Wetland

30.1.2019

4230.00

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements is/are incorrect with reference to Ramsar Sites in India?

a. Uttar Pradesh has the most number of Ramsar Sites in India.

b. Renuka Wetland in Himachal Pradesh is the largest wetland of India.

 I. Only a

II. Only b

III. Both a and b

IV. Neither a nor b

Answer: Option II

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/vembanad-ashtamudi-ngt-slaps-rs-10-crore-on-kerala-for-its-failure-to-protect-ramsar-sites-88520