Experts have raised alarms over the swift depletion of wetlands in cities such as Delhi, citing their loss as a major threat to urban water management and biodiversity. These natural buffers help regulate water flows and are essential for flood management, which has been severely compromised due to their degradation.
Coinciding with World Wetlands Day, an event organized by Wetlands International South Asia emphasized the critical role these ecosystems play. Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati from the United Nations Environment Programme noted that while wetlands once acted as natural sponges, their erosion has drastically diminished Delhi’s capacity to manage floods effectively.
Siddharth Kaul, President of Wetlands International South Asia, shed light on the mismanagement of wetlands, stressing the need for better infrastructure and expertise. He underscored the degradation of the Yamuna floodplain as Delhi’s biggest environmental issue, a situation exacerbated by poor water channel management and infrastructure.
(With inputs from agencies.)