No Ramsar-Listed Wetlands in Meghalaya, Says Govt Report

Shillong, April 30: No water bodies in Meghalaya are qualified to be categorised as ‘Ramsar sites’.

This was informed by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration), Department of Forest and Environment of the Meghalaya state government through a report submitted before the Meghalaya High Court during a hearing on the PIL taken in pursuant to an order passed by the Supreme Court on December 11, 2024, which requested “ground truthing” of wetlands and identification of Ramsar sites amongst those waterbodies in the state.

The purpose of the Supreme Court order was to ensure that suitable orders were passed by a High Court upon the State for identification, preservation and maintenance of these water bodies in accordance with the resolution taken in the Ramsar Convention.

The report was prepared after completion of “ground truthing” of all categories of wetlands in Meghalaya.

All categories of wetlands comprising of 66 lakes/ponds, 1 oxbow/cut off meander, 6 riverine wetlands, 18 waterlogged bodies, 100 river/streams, 9 reservoirs/barrages and 25 tanks/ponds had been inspected by the Meghalaya State Wetland Authority and the personnel of the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration), Department of Forests and Environment of the State government.

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“Ground truthing” of these wetlands had been completed. It is opined in the report by the Chief Conservator of Forests of the state government that none of the above wetlands is qualified as a Ramsar site,” the report stated.

Accordingly, the bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh in its order passed on April 29 said, “The said report is accepted and taken on record.”

“We find that the writ petition [Writ Petition (C) No. 304 of 2018] in which the Supreme Court passed the said order on December 11, 2024, is still pending. Although there is no direction to this effect, we direct the Registrar General of this Court to affirm an affidavit in the said writ petition before the Supreme Court on behalf of the State of Meghalaya and this Court stating the above steps which have been taken in compliance with its said order, including all orders passed by this Court and the said report dated April 29, 2025 of the State. The affidavit should only be filed after obtaining appropriate leave from the highest court,” the bench said while disposing of the PIL.

(Newmai News Network)