New Delhi: National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas, prepared by Space Applications Center and released earlier this month, has stated that the total area of wetlands in Delhi increased by 9.3% in the next decade 2006, mainly due to the transformation of categories and rejuvenation or development activities.
The report revealed that the total wetland area, which was 2,537 hectares in 2006-07, reached 2,773 hectares in 2017-18 – a surge of 236 hectares.
While the wetland area in natural land has increased by 24 hectares, from 1,333 hectares to 1,357 hectares, underground underground area see a significant increase and rise from 1,204 hectares to 1,416 hectares in the same period.
“Decadal changes (2017-18 vs 2006-07) show an overall increase of 9.3% in wetland areas.
Large changes are mainly observed in the category of waterlogg and tanks / ponds.
They are caused by the transformation of wetland categories and also rejuvenation or development activities, “The report said.
TimesviewWetlands plays an important role in the protection and preservation of the ecosystem.
They lowered the level of pollution and raised groundwater tables.
For decades, Delhi’s natural water heritage such as ponds and lakes have disappeared or become a tainted pond shrinking.
The emergence of human-made water objects is encouraging.
This shows that sincere conservation efforts can reverse the process.
Notification of wetlands will also bring legal muscles needed to ensure a better winner.
According to the report, Yamuna is probably the only water body that meets the daily requirements of the Delhi population.
River hygiene, however, is the main concern for the government because industrial waste accumulates in it.
Other major water sources include Agra Canal, Hindu Canal and West Canal, the report said.
Delhi is located on the edge of Yamuna and has a total area of 1,484 square kilometers.
However, wetlands only cover 1.9% of the total geographical area of capital.
The dominant wetland class is a river or flow, reservoir and tank or pool, which includes 74% of the total wetland area in the state in 2017-18.
Sidharth Kaul, President, Wetlands International South Asia, said, “Delhi does have wetlands, with the plains of river floods and artificial lakes / ponds into the dominant category.
National Wetlands inventory needs to be updated at least once a decade to find out this ecosystem trend.
Data needs enriched From recordings not only wetland areas, but also conditions, threats and management.
“Meanwhile, Delhi’s wetland authority has identified and provides a unique identification number to 1,040 water bodies in the capital.
Of these, 10 has been prioritized to be told as wetlands.
At present, Delhi does not have one body of water notified as wetlands, which will provide legal protection.
“We will issue a notification concept for these 10 wetlands immediately to invite comments or suggestions before telling them under the 2017 wetlands (conservation and management) rules,” said the Delhi Department Department official.
Delhi: In a decade, wetland areas increased 9.3%
