Water body or low-lying land? A dispute that lies at the heart of Delhi’s depleting wetlands

A long-running tug of war between two government agencies in Delhi over Tikri Khurd lake, which spans over 40 acres in Narela,is symptomatic of why wetlands and water bodies are depleting in the national capital.

It’s been eight years since the Centre formulated wetland rules –which made it mandatory for all States and Union Territories to form State wetland authorities and identify and notify all wetlands – but not a single wetland has been notified in the Capital.

Over six years have elapsed since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed authorities to conserve Tikri Khurd lake. No action has been taken, and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which owns the lake, continues to deny that it is a water body.

“We are of the view that the Wetland Authority of Delhi (WAD) must look into the matter. Even if it is found thatthe area in question is not technically a wetland, the lake is required to be preserved as a water body,” the NGT had said in an order dated March 29, 2019.

A similar stand taken by the DDA in 2019 was flayed by the NGT as showing lack of commitment for conserving the water body and “focusing on technicalities and shifting responsibility”.

Expertshave highlighted that the role of wetlands is vitalin the city’s hydrological cycle, which provides a wide range of ecosystem services likewater storage, purification, groundwater recharge and helps prevent waterlogging and floods.

Dwindling numbers

The situation of the Tikri Khurd lake is not unique.

Diwan Singh, a Delhi-based environment activist, criticised the authorities for not trying to revive water bodies. “The government is not doing anything to revive water bodies. Even water bodies mentioned in government records are being legally or illegally filled up in many cases,” Mr.Singh said.

The WAD is supposed to notify water bodies that fit the definition of “wetlands”. It should also provide legal protection from encroachments and facilitate efforts to rejuvenate them. But Delhi has lost several wetlands to unplanned growth and encroachments, say experts.

Meanwhile, the government agencies in charge ofwater bodies in Delhi have reportedly requested WAD for the ‘deletion’of 232 out of 1,045 water bodies — over 22% — from the official records, due to encroachment and other reasons.

Agencies at odds

The DDA describes Tikri Khurd lake as a “low-lying land” where sewer water has accumulated.

“It is hereby requested to kindly not issue the notification declaring the Tikri Khurd lake under the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 since the said area is the acquired land of DDA,” the DDA told WAD in a communication dated November 29, 2024, accessed byThe Hindu.

WAD officials say obstacles like the one they are facing with Tikri Khurd lake are causing the delay in notifying water bodies as wetlands in the Capital.

However, a WAD official asserted that the lake is a water body and they have donea ground-truthing exercise, whichinvolves verifying data by comparing it to real-time observations or measurements.

“A technical committee of the Wetland Authority of Delhi had in 2021 recommended to notify the lake as a wetland after its assessment. It has remained in our records as a water body and the DDA cannot say that it is not a water body. We will push for notifying it as a wetland,” the official said.

There was no response when The Hindu reached out to a DDA spokesperson and vice-chairperson’s office.

Meanwhile, when The Hindu visited the area, a large shallow waterlogged area was found.

Residents recalled the destruction of smaller ponds as the village grew, while the current lake gradually filled the remaining low-lying land.