India, Jan. 30 -- The Orissa High Court has scheduled February 12 to begin overseeing the conservation of six Ramsar wetlands in Odisha. This includes monitoring efforts around the notable Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika mangroves, Satkosia Gorge, Tampara Lake, Hirakud Reservoir, and Ansupa Lake, spanning a collective expanse of 345,628 hectares.

Supreme Court Mandate

This action follows the Supreme Court's directive on December 11, 2024. The court ordered state and union territory wetland authorities to complete ground verification and demarcation of wetland boundaries as identified by the Space Applications Centre Atlas (SAC Atlas) 2021 within three months. Additionally, high courts were instructed to ensure the protection of Ramsar sites ...