The Kerala government has officially constituted the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit (AWMU), acting on a clear directive from the Kerala High Court to strengthen conservation efforts for the internationally significant Ashtamudi wetland, a designated Ramsar site in Kollam district.
The announcement was made before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice V.M. Syam Kumar V.M., which was hearing a contempt petition filed by lawyer Boris Paul over delayed compliance with the court’s earlier judgment from July 2025. That order had mandated the establishment of a dedicated management unit within a fixed timeframe to curb pollution, encroachments and ecological degradation affecting the wetland’s fragile ecosystem.
According to the state’s submission before the High Court, a notification has now been issued by the Environment Department, formally constituting the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit with the Kollam District Collector as its Chairperson. The unit’s membership includes officials from key departments and local self-government representatives, reflecting a coordinated approach to protect the wetland’s biodiversity and water quality.
The High Court had earlier clarified that establishing the management unit did not require the creation of new posts or additional administrative approvals, dismissing government arguments that bureaucratic hurdles were delaying its formation. Following this clarification, the court directed that the notification be issued by January 7, 2026, which the state complied with, according to government counsel.
Despite this progress, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that other aspects of the court’s earlier directives—such as preparing an integrated wetland management plan and holding the unit’s first formal meeting—are still pending compliance. The High Court has adjourned further hearings to January 22 to monitor these ongoing obligations.
The formation of the AWMU is seen as a crucial step in preserving the ecological integrity of the Ashtamudi Lake, which has been under stress from pollution, encroachments and habitat loss, and reflects judicial insistence on enforcing environmental protections for Ramsar wetlands in the state.
News as reported
