'Verify, demarcate wetlands in SAC Atlas within 2 months': Supreme Court issues directives for states

The Supreme Court directed states and Union territories to physically verify and demarcate all wetlands identified in the Space Applications Centre (SAC) Atlas within two months.

The order, passed by justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi, clarifies that ground-truthing and boundary demarcation under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, must involve physical identification, not just paperwork.

If physical verification is not completed, secretaries of the Ministry of Environment and Forest and vice chairmen of State Wetland Authorities must appear in person to show cause for non-compliance.

The directive is part of ongoing litigation since 2018, initiated by petitioners including Anand Arya, MK Balakrishnan, and NGO Vanashakti.