Kerala High Court Halts Construction in Kottooli Wetlands Amid Ramsar Process

The Kerala High Court has directed authorities to ensure that no new construction takes place in the prohibited area of the Kottooli wetlands in Kozhikode while the process to declare the site a Ramsar wetland is underway.

The Court observed that permitting permanent structures during the pendency of the designation process would defeat the objective of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and the Ramsar Convention, both aimed at safeguarding ecologically sensitive wetlands.

The Court also directed the State and Union governments to complete the Ramsar designation process within three months, stressing coordinated action.

Meanwhile, the authorities have been asked to strictly enforce restrictions. Existing constructions will be examined separately in the ongoing proceedings.

[Sarovaram Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti v. Ministry of Environment & Forests & Climate Change & Ors.]