As global delegates gear up for the Ramsar Convention 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Zimbabwe a forgotten wetland in India capital stands as a grim symbol of environmental neglect.
The Jharoda wetland in North Delhi once a thriving aquatic ecosystem, has all but vanished quietly filled with soil, rubble, and inert waste over the past two years. Located just a kilometre from the Yamuna Biodiversity Park near Jharoda Majra Metro Station, the site now shows little evidence of its ecological past. Patches of grass remain, but the wetland itself is largely unrecognizable.
Despite the enactment of Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules in 2020, not a single wetland in Delhi has been officially notified under the law. The lack of legal recognition has left places like Jharoda vulnerable to unchecked encroachment and illegal dumping—much of which, according to reports, takes place under cover of night.
A recent Times of India investigation revealed how various government bodies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), have traded blame rather than taking responsibility for the site’s degradation.
Encroachments by nearby residential buildings have further narrowed the wetland’s borders, signaling a broader pattern of urban expansion prioritizing real estate over ecological resilience.
The timing is especially poignant: COP15, being held from July 23 to 31 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, is a critical moment for global leaders to assess the health of wetlands—natural systems that provide vital services like flood control, water purification, and biodiversity conservation.
The silent death of Jharoda reflects a global crisis. Across the world, wetlands are being degraded or destroyed despite their protected status under the Ramsar Convention. Often undervalued, they are among the planet’s most productive yet most threatened ecosystems.
As India sends its delegation to COP15, the decaying state of Jharoda should serve as a call for action, not just abroad but at home. Without accountability, legal enforcement, and public awareness, India risks losing more of its wetlands—one dump truck at a time.