Raipur: The Naya Raipur Atal Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran (NRANVP) has proposed two development projects in Sector 24 near Jhanjh Wetland (Audhumi) in Naya Raipur. The tendering process is currently underway for these projects, which include a plotted development and floating recreation facility on 2.66 acres (NIT No. 10361) and a branded residential area on 18.64 acres (NIT No. 10360).
However, objections have been raised regarding these tenders. Dr. Rakesh Gupta from Raipur has formally written to the Chief Secretary-cum-Vice Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority, the Chairman and CEO of NRANVP, the Member Secretary of the Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority, and the Chief Engineer, expressing concerns over the legality of these projects.
Jhanjh Wetland is a notified wetland under the Supreme Court’s ruling in the M.K. Balakrishnan vs. Union of India case, where Rule 4 of the Wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules, 2010, is applicable. These rules restrict any construction within a wetland area based on the environmental status of the past 10 years. This provision was retained in the updated Wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules, 2017.
Additionally, a recent Supreme Court directive in the Anand Arya case mandates that the demarcation and verification of wetlands larger than 2.25 hectares be completed within three months, with a deadline of March 13, 2025. This process is currently ongoing in Chhattisgarh.
Dr. Gupta has alleged that despite a complaint filed in 2023 regarding encroachment on Jhanjh Wetland by dumping soil and constructing a pathway, no investigation report has been submitted yet. He claims that court orders have been openly violated, and the encroached structures have not been removed. He questioned the urgency of inviting tenders for construction near the wetland when its demarcation report, as ordered by the Supreme Court, has not been finalized.
Dr. Gupta has demanded an immediate halt to the tendering and proposed construction near Jhanjh Wetland. He has suggested that the Revenue Department be involved in verifying the wetland’s ground status and demarcation, emphasizing that permanent construction is prohibited within 50 meters of the highest recorded flood level since 2000. He further argued that both proposed project sites fall within the average high flood level of the past 25 years, making them unsuitable for development.
He has also criticized the Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority, accusing it of playing a role in the destruction of wetlands rather than their protection.
