National Green Tribunal Issues Urgent Directive for Wetland Protection in Three States
In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications for environmental conservation, the central bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a decisive order to state wetland authorities in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. The tribunal has mandated the completion of the demarcation process and the erection of boundary walls around wetlands within these states on an urgent priority basis.
Compliance Report Deadline Set for May 2026
The green tribunal has established a strict timeline for compliance, requiring the state wetland authorities to submit a detailed progress and compliance report by the next scheduled hearing on May 11, 2026. This directive underscores the NGT's commitment to ensuring tangible action rather than mere procedural compliance.
Petition Highlights Critical Violations in Tikamgarh Wetlands
The tribunal's order was delivered in response to a petition filed by Sobran Yadav, a concerned citizen who brought attention to the deplorable condition of six specific wetlands in Tikamgarh district. The petition documented severe environmental violations, including:
- Blatant encroachment on wetland areas
- Illegal dumping of solid waste
- Unauthorized agricultural activities
- Discharge of untreated water into these critical ecosystems
The plea specifically sought urgent intervention from the green panel to address these pressing environmental concerns.
NGT Bench Confirms Serious Regulatory Violations
The NGT bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, thoroughly examined the case and upheld the petitioner's contention. The bench confirmed that there were indeed serious violations of the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, occurring in the Tikamgarh district.
These violations were further corroborated by the report of a joint committee specifically constituted by the NGT to assess the status of the six Tikamgarh wetlands:
- Mahendra Sagar
- Brandavan Talab (Jheer Ki Bagiya)
- Gwal Sagar
- Hanuman Sagar
- Maharaj Sagar
- Shell Sagar
Previous Tribunal Directions and Lack of Implementation
Acting on the joint committee's findings, the tribunal had previously issued specific directions in August 2025 to the Tikamgarh district collector, the chief municipal officer of Tikamgarh, and the water resource development department. These directions were intended to ensure the safeguarding and conservation of the identified wetlands.
However, the NGT central bench later observed with concern that "no sincere efforts are being made" by these local authorities to comply with the tribunal's directives for implementing the Wetland Rules, 2017, regarding the protection of the six wetlands.
Supreme Court Mandate and National Framework
The tribunal's latest order aligns with broader national conservation efforts. It noted that, in compliance with a Supreme Court order dated December 11, 2024, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had issued a memorandum. This memorandum called for the expeditious completion of ground truthing and demarcation of wetland boundaries as identified by the Space Applications Centre Atlas (SAC Atlas), 2021.
Expanded Scope and Direct Order to State Authorities
Responding to the renewed plea and considering the documented serious environmental violations, the NGT has now expanded its focus beyond Tikamgarh. The tribunal has issued a direct order to the state wetland authorities across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
The NGT stated that, given the gravity of the situation, these authorities are directed to complete the demarcation and erect boundary pillars around wetlands within their jurisdictions on a priority basis. The requirement to file a progress report before the May 11, 2026 hearing applies to all three states, marking a significant step in coordinated regional environmental governance.
