Madhya Pradesh is celebrating its three new Ramsar sites that were designated in 2022, but the journey for the rest of the state’s wetlands, to be eligible for a Ramsar designation, is a long one. While wetlands in the state have been identified for conservation to make them Ramsar contenders for the future, except for one, no wetland has officially been notified – an administrative process by the state government that gives them legal status that aids in conservation, which eventually can make them fit for Ramsar consideration. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated for having representative, rare or unique wetland types or for their importance in conserving biological diversity.
The State Wetland Authority had sent a proposal to the state government for notification of six lakes under Wetland Rules 2017 about a year ago. The intention was to notify these lakes which would facilitate conservation and their names could be suggested for Ramsar sites designation in the next nomination round. The lakes include Jadhav Sagar and Madhav Sagar lakes in Shivpuri district, Sagar Lake in Sagar district, Sindh Sagar in Isagarh in Ashoknagar district, Amrit Sagar in Ratlam and Sita Sagar in Datia district.
A lot of money has already been invested in…
