As Indian cities hurtle toward rapid urban expansion, often celebrated in terms of GDP growth, infrastructure, and high-rise skylines, a quieter crisis unfolds at the edge of this development: the disappearance of urban wetlands. Once central to the health and habitability of cities, these vital ecosystems are now under siege from real estate development, pollution, and poor planning. Urban wetlands regulate floods, purify water, support biodiversity, and offer climate resilience yet they are routinely dismissed as wastelands. This article explores how India’s environmental laws, while well-intentioned, fall short in protecting wetlands from the onslaught of urbanization. Through an examination of legal frameworks, case studies, and governance failures, we explore why these critical urban assets are vanishing and what can be done to reverse the trend.
