Encroachments, illegal salt pans: NGT orders Sambhar Lake inspection
2-minute summary
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint committee inspection of Sambhar Lake, India's largest inland saline wetland and a designated Ramsar site, located in Rajasthan. The order comes in response to a petition alleging extensive environmental degradation, including illegal encroachments, unauthorized salt pans, and excessive groundwater extraction via thousands of illegal borewells. These activities have severely depleted groundwater levels, altered the lake's delicate salinity balance, and disrupted its natural hydrological regime. Additionally, the construction of illegal bunds and anicuts has obstructed feeder streams, causing the lake to shrink and threatening its status as a vital habitat for migratory birds like flamingos. The NGT's Central Zone Bench has directed a joint committee—comprising local administrative and environmental authorities—to submit a factual action-taken report.
Why it's in the news
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has intervened to protect Sambhar Lake by directing a joint committee to inspect the site and report on illegal salt pans, encroachments, and groundwater extraction threatening the Ramsar wetland.
Facts to remember
- Sambhar Lake was designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1990.
- Sambhar Lake is India's largest inland saline wetland, located in Rajasthan.
- The National Green Tribunal was established as a statutory body under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
- The NGT Central Zone Bench, which issued the order, is located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- The lakebed of Sambhar Lake is historically recorded in local land records as 'Samand'.
- Sambhar Lake is a critical wintering area for migratory birds, particularly lesser and greater flamingos.
Background and context
Sambhar Lake, located near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is a unique saline ecosystem that receives water from seasonal rivers including the Mendha, Rupangarh, Khandel, and Karian. Over the past few decades, the lake has faced severe ecological stress due to the proliferation of illegal salt pans. Unlike traditional solar evaporation methods, modern illegal operators use deep borewells to extract hypersaline groundwater (brine), rapidly depleting the local water table and destroying the lake's clay crust. This hydrological disruption has altered the salinity levels crucial for the lake's unique algae and brine shrimp, which in turn support thousands of migratory birds. The crisis was highlighted in 2019 when over 20,000 migratory birds died at the lake due to avian botulism, a tragedy linked to water logging, high salinity, and warm temperatures. The current NGT intervention underscores the ongoing conflict between unregulated local economic activities and international wetland conservation commitments.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 48A — Directs the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
- Article 51A(g) — Imposes a Fundamental Duty on every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
- Article 21 — The Supreme Court has interpreted the Right to Life to encompass the right to a clean, healthy, and pollution-free environment.
Government schemes
- National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) — A centrally sponsored scheme formulated for the holistic conservation and management of wetlands and lakes in the country through integrated management plans.
International organisations
- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands — An international treaty signed in 1971 for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Sambhar Lake is designated as a Ramsar Site, obligating India to maintain its ecological character.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Prelims GS-1 2018 — How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government. 2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- Mains GS-2 2025 — Comment on the need of administrative tribunals as compared to the court system. Assess the impact of the recent tribunal reforms through rationalization of tribunals made in 2021.
Mains practice: Analyze the ecological threats faced by the Sambhar Lake wetland ecosystem. Discuss how the conflict between economic activities and environmental conservation can be resolved within the framework of sustainable development.
Sambhar Lake, India's largest inland saline wetland and a designated Ramsar site, is facing severe ecological degradation. The lake represents a delicate hydrological balance maintained by seasonal river inflows, groundwater, and evaporation.
### Major Ecological Threats
• **Illegal Salt Pan Encroachments:** Unregulated salt manufacturing has encroached upon the lakebed (locally called 'Samand'), altering the natural topography.
• **Groundwater Depletion:** The installation of thousands of unauthorized borewells to extract brine has severely depleted the local water table and altered the soil's salinity profile.
• **Obstruction of Feeder Streams:** The construction of illegal bunds, anicuts, and check dams in the catchment areas of feeder rivers (like Mendha and Rupangarh) has drastically reduced freshwater inflows.
• **Threat to Biodiversity:** The alteration of salinity and water quality directly impacts the food chain, threatening migratory birds like flamingos that depend on the lake's algae and insects.
### Resolving the Conflict through Sustainable Development
• **Strict Enforcement of Regulations:** Implement the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, to strictly prohibit non-wetland activities, hazardous waste dumping, and unauthorized construction within the zone.
• **Transition to Sustainable Salt Farming:** Regulate salt production by permitting only traditional, eco-friendly solar evaporation methods while banning deep borewell brine extraction.
• **Hydrological Restoration:** Demolish illegal bunds and obstructions in the catchment areas to restore the natural flow of seasonal rivers feeding the lake.
• **Community-Based Ecotourism:** Develop alternative livelihoods for local communities through regulated ecotourism and conservation programs, aligning local economic interests with ecological preservation.
In conclusion, conserving Sambhar Lake requires moving away from short-term resource exploitation toward an integrated management approach. Strengthening statutory oversight by bodies like the NGT and involving local communities is vital to preserving this unique Ramsar site for future generations.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. With reference to Sambhar Lake, consider the following statements: 1. It is India's largest coastal lagoon and is designated as a Ramsar site. 2. It is fed by seasonal rivers, including the Mendha and Rupangarh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B. Statement 1 is incorrect because Sambhar Lake is India's largest inland saline wetland, not a coastal lagoon (Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon). Statement 2 is correct as it is fed by seasonal rivers like Mendha, Rupangarh, Khandel, and Karian.
Q2. Which of the following activities are prohibited within a designated wetland under the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 in India? 1. Conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses. 2. Setting up of new industries or expansion of existing industries. 3. Manufacture, handling, or storage of hazardous substances. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. Under the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, all three activities—conversion for non-wetland use, setting up/expansion of industries, and handling/storage of hazardous substances—are strictly prohibited within designated wetlands to protect their ecological integrity.
Q3. With reference to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), consider the following statements: 1. The NGT is bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. 2. It has the mandate to provide speedy environmental justice and reduce the burden of litigation in higher courts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B. Statement 1 is incorrect because the NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but is guided by the principles of natural justice. Statement 2 is correct as its primary mandate is to provide speedy environmental justice and reduce the litigation burden on higher courts.
Revision flashcards
- Where is Sambhar Lake located and what is its ecological significance? It is located in Rajasthan, India. It is India's largest inland saline wetland and was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990.
- What are the primary seasonal rivers that feed Sambhar Lake? The lake is fed by seasonal rivers including Mendha, Rupangarh, Khandel, Karian, and Samod.
- Under which Act was the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established? The NGT was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
- What is the key difference between NGT and CPCB regarding their establishment? The NGT is a statutory judicial body established under the NGT Act, 2010. The CPCB is a statutory technical body established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- Which migratory bird species is Sambhar Lake most famous for hosting? It is a major wintering area for thousands of migratory birds, particularly lesser and greater flamingos.