Wetland heritage: Reviving Punjab’s lost water worlds

Punjab’s story is often told through its golden crops, roaring tractors and the unstoppable spirit of its people. Yet, beneath this triumph lies an uncomfortable truth — the slow death of the very ecosystems that once nourished our land. These wetlands, our jeevan da srot, are shrinking silently, leaving behind warning signs we can no longer ignore. Today, a renewed push to reclaim these ecological treasures is not just an environmental mission, it is a cultural revival, an economic necessity and a lifeline for Punjab’s future.

The wetlands we forgot & why they matter more than ever

From Harike’s sprawling waters to the biologically rich Ropar, Kanjli and Keshopur-Miani, Punjab’s wetlands are far more than scenic landscapes. They are the unseen engines of our survival.

• They filter pollutants — working as the natural kidneys of Punjab’s environment
• They act as sponges — absorbing excess rain, cutting down the risk of floods, and slowly recharging groundwater
• They host migratory birds from Siberia, Central Asia, and beyond — turning Punjab into a global crossroads for biodiversity

For students of Punjab studies, wetlands connect ecology, culture, economy and policy. Losing them means destabilising our water security, weakening agriculture and erasing a part of Punjab’s natural identity.

How our wetlands are dying

Punjab’s dhands and chhapars (local terms for wetlands) are disappearing due to forces we created:

1. Encroachment and ignorance: Wetlands have long been dismissed as wastelands. As fields expand and towns grow, marshes are drained and filled — reducing centuries-old ecosystems to mere plots of land.
2. Contaminated waters: Industrial effluents and pesticide-laced farm runoff pour into these fragile systems. What should be life-giving water is turning hostile for fish, birds, and even local communities.
3. Rapid siltation: Poor land-use practices accelerate soil erosion, choking wetlands with silt. Once deep, thriving water bodies now turn shallow and seasonal.
4. Persistent administrative gaps: With multiple departments handling land, water, forests, and pollution control, wetlands often fall through governance cracks. For decades, they lacked the legal backing needed for protection.

The consequences are already visible — falling water tables, disappearing bird species, seasonal flooding and a weakening ecological foundation for agriculture.

Punjab’s fightback: Mapping, science and stronger laws

A major turnaround began when Punjab’s Forest Department, backed by WWF-India and mandated by the Supreme Court, started a state-wide ground-truthing mission.

This is not just a desk exercise. It involves:

• Satellite mapping to mark wetland boundaries
• Field verification by district teams to check their health
• Water testing, vegetation mapping and wildlife documentation

The goal? To identify genuine wetlands and officially notify them under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Notification gives these areas legal protection against dumping, encroachment and harmful development, a crucial shield that Punjab has long needed.

For PCS aspirants, this process shows how environmental governance works at the ground level: judicial oversight, inter-agency coordination, community-based verification and application of national conservation rules.

What real restoration looks like

Marking a boundary is only step one. The real work starts now and it demands long-term commitment:

1. Stop encroachment firmly: Local administrations must guard wetlands as shared commons, not leftover land. Without consistent vigilance, maps will mean nothing.
2. Clean water at the source: Industrial discharge must be regulated. Farmers must be supported to reduce chemical runoff through sustainable practices. Wetland health starts upstream.
3. Revive wetland ecology: Desilting, restoring reed beds, planting native trees and improving catchment areas are crucial for bringing life back into the water.
4. Bring communities to the centre: Villages around wetlands should benefit from them through eco-tourism, nature guides, sustainable fishing, nursery plantations and conservation jobs. When people earn from nature, they protect it.

For students, this is a practical lesson in sustainable development: environmental revival tied with rural livelihoods.

Why this matters: Resilience, identity and the future of Punjab

With one of the lowest forest covers in India, Punjab cannot afford further environmental erosion. Wetlands are our “water forests” — absorbing floods, storing water and harbouring life. Restoring them is not optional; it is our strongest defence against climate change and water scarcity.

This revival also reconnects us with our roots. Wetlands shaped our folklore, our migratory bird festivals, our fishing traditions and our relationship with the land.

The revival has begun, now the responsibility is ours

Punjab’s wetlands are more than ecosystems; they are symbols of what we value as a society. The state has launched a long-overdue mission, guided by science and upheld by the law. But its success depends on collective resolve — students, farmers, officials and communities together safeguarding what remains.

Saving our wetlands is not just environmental work. It is a restoration of Punjab’s soul, a promise of stable water for future generations and a commitment to ecological justice. The fight has begun  and it demands each of us to stand with it, protect it and carry it forward.

Keywords: Wetlands, Ground Truthing, Ramsar Convention, Biodiversity, Groundwater recharge, Ecological restoration, WWF, Wetlands (Conservation And Management) Rules 2017, Encroachment, Climate resilience, Punjab wetlands, Green livelihoods.

Mains practice question

Critically examine the importance of wetland conservation in the state and discuss how policy measures, legal frameworks and community participation can be integrated to restore and protect these ecosystems. Illustrate your answer with reference to Ramsar sites and ongoing initiatives in Punjab.