SUPREME COURT SLAPPED A FINE Rs 50,000 to MOEF Secretary on wetland protection case

The Supreme Court on 13th July 2017 , Thursday slapped a fine of Rs. 50, 000 on Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for his unsatisfactory reply in the wetland protection case. The bench of apex court headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur passed this verdict. Earlier in February, the top court directed the Centre to frame a policy to protect wetlands by June 30. This verdict was passed in order to preserve the ecologically crucial wetlands which is threatened to be encroached in many parts of the country which cover over 2 lakh wetlands across India. The policy was to be framed for preservation of wetlands to mitigate climate change and protect wide variety flora and fauna. A wetland is an area saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem