Venkatesh DuttaLucknow was known for its waterbodies – numerous lakes, ponds and wetlands dotted landscapes that provided freshwater for people, animals and ecosystems.
Due to increasing urbanization and water demands from settlements, groundwater abstraction depths are increasing, ranging approximately from 180-250 metres, indicating stress on both shallow and deeper aquifers. This is leading to loss of water in wetlands as groundwater seepage used to keep these waterbodies alive even in summer. Wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Due to rapid urbanization and land use changes, we are losing them every year by a huge margin. During the last four decades alone, Lucknow lost around 70% of such freshwater reserves.The Hulaskheda wetlands, also known as Karela Jheel, spreads over 100 acres in Mohanlalganj. Home to many species of migratory birds, it can be developed into a community bird sanctuary.Amausi village in Sarojininagar has 56 ponds measuring an area of 25.6 hectares. Bijnaur village has 47 ponds with an extent of 35.57 hectares. Kalli Paschim in Sarojnininagar has 99 ponds that measure 49.04 hectare in revenue records.Chinhat village has 45 ponds measuring 28.4 hectares. Haibatmau Mawaiya village has 51 ponds measuring 16.14 hectares. In Lucknow’s Bakshi-ka-Talab tehsil alone, there are 2,750 ponds with an area of 9,584 hectares. On average, every village in Lucknow used to have at least 10 ponds till 1990 which were slowly levelled for farming, urbanization and rapid growth of human settlements. A list on waterbodies in 88 villages puts 1,117 ponds measuring an area of 456.64 hectares.Any encroachment on or change in the land use of ponds and lakes recorded in 1,359 Fasli year is not permitted. Supreme Court, High Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have consistently issued orders to the district administration and State Wetland Authority to protect and conserve wetlands.In the case of Hinchlal Tiwari vs Kamala Devi (AIR 2001 SC 3215), the Supreme Court ruled that the 1,359 Fasli year (1952) would be considered the base year, and the land recorded as ponds, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies cannot be altered.Effective wetland restoration begins with securing land tenure and boundaries. Wetlands should be mapped using high-resolution satellite data and drone surveys, and land revenue records must be corrected based on observed post-monsoon water spread. Encroachments on wetlands must be treated as violations and removed through firm legal and administrative action.(The author is a professor and head of the department of environmental science, BBAU, Lucknow)
