Supreme Court Extends 10-km Mining Buffer to All Wetland Reserves
Why in News?
The Supreme Court has clarified that the prohibition on mining activities within a 10-km buffer zone is applicable to all notified wetland conservation reserves across the country, ensuring uniform environmental protection.
Key Highlights
- The clarification was issued during the hearing of a petition concerning mining operations near the Asan Conservation Reserve, a Ramsar Site in Uttarakhand.
- The Court observed that environmental safeguards applicable to one notified wetland should be implemented consistently across all similarly protected wetlands.
- The judgment reinforces the precautionary principle, emphasising that ecological protection must take precedence in environmentally sensitive regions.
- It also underlines the need for rigorous scientific assessment before permitting mining or other extractive activities in the vicinity of protected wetlands.
Key Concepts
Ramsar Convention (1971):
An international treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands of international importance, particularly those that provide critical habitats for waterbirds and support biodiversity.
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017:
These rules provide the legal framework for the identification, notification, conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of wetlands in India while regulating activities that may degrade these ecosystems.
Way Forward
Effective wetland conservation requires scientific mapping, stronger implementation of environmental regulations, integrated ecosystem management, and strict enforcement of safeguards to protect India’s ecologically sensitive wetland landscapes from unsustainable developmental activities.