Dhanauri Wetland's Ramsar Tag Stuck in Bureaucratic Labyrinth
Dhanauri in Greater Noida, a thriving habitat for nearly 217 bird species including Uttar Pradesh's state bird, the sarus crane, continues to await official recognition as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Despite fulfilling at least two criteria for Ramsar designation, this ecologically significant area remains officially unprotected, caught in a web of bureaucratic delays and legal complexities.
Legal Framework and Supreme Court Directives
In 2017, the Supreme Court issued a landmark directive in the MK Balakrishnan Vs Union of India case, ordering protection for all 2,01,503 wetlands mapped by the Indian government under Rule 4 of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. This protection prohibits activities like reclamation, conversion for non-wetland use, and any actions that could disturb their ecological character. By March 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had updated this count to 2,31,195 wetlands across the country.
The Supreme Court expressed serious concern about delays in notifying updated Wetlands Rules and the lack of audited spending on conservation funds, ordering the Centre to finalize and notify these rules by a fixed deadline. Notably, wetland management responsibility shifted from the Union ministry to state governments when new rules took effect in 2017.
The Dhanauri Conundrum: A Case of Missed Opportunities
The process for declaring any wetland a Ramsar site involves a five-step procedure that should begin with the state government conducting a feasibility assessment and declaring intent for designation. However, in Dhanauri's case, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change took the unusual first step on June 5, 2019 - World Environment Day - writing to the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a proposal declaring Dhanauri both a large wetland and a sarus crane sanctuary.
Six years later, this proposal remains in bureaucratic limbo. Environmentalists, frustrated by years of inaction, approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2023, triggering a series of directives that have yet to produce concrete results.
NGT Proceedings and State Government Responses
During the first hearing following environmentalist Anand Arya's October 2023 petition, the state's counsel revealed that a proposal for notification had been submitted to the Wetland Authority on August 4, 2022. Yet, by September 2025, the same counsel sought another adjournment to determine whether Uttar Pradesh was ready to send a Ramsar site proposal to the ministry and whether the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) had objections.
Four months earlier, in May 2025, YEIDA's counsel had promised that "all possible action would be taken" with a report to be filed within three weeks. This pattern of delays and promises has characterized the entire process, with no substantial progress toward Dhanauri's protection.
Development Pressure and Conservation Concerns
Petitioner Anand Arya expressed deep concern about potential ulterior motives behind the delays. "Bureaucrats would prefer that Dhanauri be a wasteland and not a wetland," he stated. "Once they declare it a wetland, the area has to be preserved and the species must be conserved. But if they leave it to turn into a wasteland, they can gradually expand the real estate industry, which will give monetary returns."
Arya highlighted the stark contrast between Dhanauri's prolonged struggle and the swift clearance for the Noida International Airport in Jewar. The airport project received "in-principle" approval from the Centre on May 8, 2018, and environmental clearance on March 9, 2020. Following Arya's intervention during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the Wildlife Institute of India was tasked with preparing a conservation plan specifically for sarus cranes and peacocks in the project area.
This conservation plan emphasizes preserving water bodies to support wildlife habitats and includes initiatives to raise public awareness about the importance of these birds. The EIA carries a special condition requiring that the Dhanauri conservation plan be implemented "in letter and spirit" before airport operations begin.
Understanding the Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty that came into force in 1975, dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands worldwide. Designating wetlands as Ramsar sites supports global biodiversity conservation efforts, recognizing their value for both national and global communities.
Local Perspectives and Livelihood Concerns
Umesh, a resident of Thasrana village in Dhanauri's core area, described the limited livelihood opportunities in the region. "Most of it is private land, and people cannot practice farming because of perennial waterlogging," he explained. While unfamiliar with the Ramsar tag specifics, Umesh recognizes the importance of conservation given the hundreds of bird species thriving there.
"If there are conservation plans and the area is developed into a proper tourist spot, it may offer some employment opportunities to the locals," he suggested, highlighting the potential for ecotourism to benefit both conservation and community development.
The ongoing struggle for Dhanauri's protection represents a critical test case for India's wetland conservation efforts, balancing ecological preservation against development pressures in one of the country's fastest-growing regions.
