As an Environmentalist, Green Technologist, and proud citizen of Kolkata, I am deeply concerned about the future of our beloved city. The East Kolkata Wetland (EKW), designated as Ramsar Site 1208, is not just a crucial ecological asset but also the 'Kidney of Kolkata.' It plays a vital role in cleaning the air and water, providing us with a sustainable environment that supports both biodiversity and human life. Without it, Kolkata faces the very real threat of becoming choked with pollution and losing the natural beauty and livability that define it.

Remember

The East Kolkata Wetland is under threat from rapid urbanization and improper land-use that overlook the significant environmental benefits these wetlands offer. They serve as natural buffers, absorbing pollutants and excess waters, thus protecting our city from potential flooding and other ecological disasters. The changes proposed in land use could lead to severe degradation of these functions, affecting air quality, water cleanliness, and the overall health of Kolkata's environment.

According to the Ramsar Convention, which the East Kolkata Wetland is part of, it is imperative that we protect such wetlands of international importance. The current development plans threaten to undermine the agreement's principles, having possibly irreversible effects on our ecosystem. To date, empirical studies, including data from the Ramsar Site 1208 report, have shown that EKW supports a rich diversity of species, acting as a major habitat for flora and fauna, including several endangered species.

The importance of EKW's conservation cannot be overstated. We implore local government authorities, urban planners, and concerned citizens to prioritize the protection and sustainable management of East Kolkata Wetland. Emphasizing nature-based urban planning and implementing strict regulations on construction and land conversion around these wetlands is crucial.

I am calling on every Kolkatan and global citizen who values sustainable development to lend their voice to this cause. By signing this petition, we urge the concerned authorities to adhere to the Ramsar guidelines, strictly enforce preservation laws, and ensure that East Kolkata Wetland continues to act as the lifeblood of our city.

Let’s stand together to preserve the future of Kolkata for generations to come. Please sign this petition and help protect our environment and our city.

The Issue

The East Calcutta Wetlands were designated a "wetland of international importance" under the Ramsar Convention on August 19, 2002. The wetlands cover 12500 hectare (125 square kilometers), and include salt marshes and salt meadows, as well as sewage farms and settling ponds. The wetlands are used to treat Kolkata's sewage, and the nutrients contained in the waste water sustain fish farms and agriculture.

The land filling and stealing of EKW water body is done by Govt and private parties uncontrolled. Over the years in the last 25 years illegal landfills are on the rise and the wetlands are being slowly assimilated in the mainstream city. This unprecedented land development and urbanization are creating concerns about the impact on the environment including MLW disposal of major part of Kolkata city. Capacity of Dhapa MSW disposal yard is over long back and now it is encroaching the EKW water body. In short time Dhapa dump yard will cover the major part of EKW but no one is thinking for the loss of MLW dump yard ie EKW. Government have no realistic plan or program for disposal of MSW & MLW of the large metropolitan city Calcutta .

Municipal Solid waste dump yard can raise vertically like hill as it is happening in Dhapa dump yard. But MLW( liquid) dumping can’t rise vertically and will spread horizontally when filled to its capacity. In few decades major part of the EKW will become greater Dhapa and the problem of MSW dumping will be solved temporarily This will be at the cost of MLW disposal wet land and it will make the city roads filled with MLW when the drain manholes will overflow making the city not fit for living with associated spread of diseases .

State Govt is a part of this stealing of EKW as we can see in different clearances/ decisions including allowing the private party to allow land filling, stating the insufficiency of present law to stop the land encroachment & development. This will have environmental impact which will affect the people in this region directly and indirectly the whole mankind . We request the GOI, WBGOVT and international organizations to wake up to solve the problem of MSW & MLW of city of Kolkata and save the Ramsar Site- East Kolkata Wetland, (Ramsar site No. 1208) from vanishing. 

chronology👇🏻

■2nd Feb 1971 - first International Wetland Convention was held.

■ 1st Feb 1982- India Signed the agreement International treaty in Ramsar convention .

■ 2nd Feb 1997 - First World Wetland Day was celebrated 

■19th Aug 2002 -- East Kolkata Wetland EKW was declared as Ramsar Site (NO.1208)

■ 2006 - EKWMA was formed with Act, Rules & Regulations. 

■ year 2017 - EWMA was reformed with13 members headed by state environment minister.

Since signing the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1982, India has significantly benefited by adopting a structured framework for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of its critical wetland ecosystems. With 98 designated sites (as of 2026), India has the largest network of Ramsar sites in South Asia, enhancing its global reputation in environmental stewardship and providing substantial ecological and socio-economic benefits. 

Key benefits for India include:

Biodiversity Conservation: The designation of 98 Ramsar sites has helped protect diverse habitats, including mangroves, coral reefs, and high-altitude lakes, which act as critical, safe havens for threatened species and migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.

Strengthened Policy Framework: Accession to the treaty accelerated the creation of national policies, including the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA), which provide financial and technical assistance to states for managing wetlands.

Climate Change Mitigation: As natural carbon sinks, the conservation of Ramsar-designated wetlands helps India mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon and reducing the risks of disasters like floods, cyclones, and storm surges.

Enhanced Livelihoods: The "wise use" approach encourages sustainable economic activities, such as eco-tourism, fishing, and agriculture, benefiting local communities dependent on these ecosystems.

International Recognition and Technical Support: Ramsar status brings international visibility to India's wetlands, facilitating access to expert advice for addressing site-specific conservation challenges, such as the management of Loktak Lake and Keoladeo National Park.

Focus on Urban Wetlands: The convention has highlighted the importance of urban wetlands, with cities like Indore and Udaipur being recognized as Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities for their commitment to conserving these vital areas.

Promotion of Sustainable Lifestyles: India has taken a leadership role in promoting "wise use," with the adoption of a resolution on "Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands" at the 15th Conference of Parties (CoP15), aligning with the "Mission LiFE" movement. 

Prominent examples of benefited sites include Chilika Lake (Odisha), Sundarbans (West Bengal), and Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir), which have received enhanced management and protection.

EKW is a prime example of a functioning ecosystem that provides, at no cost, sewage treatment, fish production, and livelihood for thousands. 

This year’s theme — “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage” — reminds us that protecting wetlands does not only depend on scientific and technological solutions. For generations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have safeguarded wetlands through knowledge systems rooted in observation, stewardship, and deep respect for nature.

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The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), a designated Ramsar site since November 2002, serves as a natural, sewage-fed ecosystem for the city.

 Activist Somendra Mohan Ghosh (S M Ghosh) actively campaigns against illegal encroachment and construction in the area. The site is often referred to as the "kidney of Kolkata" due to its role in natural sewage treatment and flood defense. 
Key Aspects of the East Kolkata Wetlands (Ramsar Site):
Significance: Recognized for its unique, sustainable, and natural wastewater treatment, reducing the need for treatment plants.
Protection: The 12,500-hectare site is protected by the Calcutta High Court against conversion for urban development.
Threats: Illegal landfilling for warehouses, plastic units, and real estate development.
Activism: S M Ghosh has highlighted the destruction of wetlands in the Nazirabad area.
Legal Action: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and High Court have ordered the restoration of water bodies and cutting of utilities to illegal structures but inspite of somany court orders ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES ARE GOING ON BY LAND MAFIAS.

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