Illegal Dumping in East Kolkata – The fragile ecological landscape of the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) is once again under threat, this time from alleged illegal dumping of solid waste and debris. An official FIR has been filed at the Anandapur Police Station following a formal complaint by Ward 108 councillor Ananya Banerjee, who raised the alarm over repeated dumping in the eco-sensitive zone.
The wetlands, recognized as a Ramsar site and one of the largest natural wastewater recycling systems in the world, are being threatened by ongoing encroachments and illegal landfill operations. These activities not only violate environmental protection laws but could also seriously disrupt the ecological balance, endangering thousands of livelihoods and aquatic species.
Illegal Dumping in East Kolkata: Repeated Dumping Triggers Official Action
The latest complaint centers around a tract of land near Ramdular Mukherjee Road, which falls within the designated East Kolkata Wetlands zone. Councillor Ananya Banerjee had flagged the activity multiple times to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority (EKWMA). However, with no concrete action in sight, she was compelled to lodge a police complaint on July 23, which led to the FIR being filed.
Banerjee, in her statement, said,
“This is not just about waste dumping. It’s about a systemic attempt to shrink a Ramsar-protected wetland area by turning it into real estate. We won’t allow this.”
Photographs and video footage submitted by the councillor showed dump trucks depositing construction debris in an area previously filled with fishery water — a clear breach of environmental zoning norms.
Illegal Dumping in East Kolkata: What the Law Says
The East Kolkata Wetlands are governed under the East Kolkata Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Act, 2006, as well as provisions under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The area also enjoys international environmental protection status as a Ramsar site, making any activity that alters the landscape—such as dumping or landfilling—potentially punishable under national and international environmental law.
Under the Act, any kind of landfill, construction, or dumping requires clearance from the State Wetlands Authority and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
Environmental Stakes: Why East Kolkata Wetlands Matter
Spread across over 12,500 hectares, the East Kolkata Wetlands perform crucial ecological functions:
- Natural sewage treatment for nearly 900 million liters of wastewater per day.
- Flood control for large parts of Kolkata.
- Aquaculture and agriculture that sustain over 20,000 families.
- A unique biodiversity hotspot, home to over 100 bird species, reptiles, and freshwater organisms.
Dumping solid waste compromises the wetland’s hydrology, clogs natural sewage channels, and increases the risks of flooding and disease outbreaks in adjacent neighborhoods.
KMC and Police Respond
Officials at Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Environment Department confirmed that they have received the complaint and are working in coordination with local law enforcement and EKWMA to halt the activities.
A KMC official said on condition of anonymity:
“A coordinated survey of the dump site is being initiated. If boundaries have been breached, we will ensure removal of debris and penalize the responsible parties.”
Police at Anandapur PS have begun a preliminary investigation and stated that action would follow based on evidence and site inspections.
Historical Background: Encroachment Is Not New
This is not the first time that the wetlands have faced existential threats. Over the past two decades, EKW has witnessed:
- Rapid urban encroachment from Eastern Metropolitan Bypass developments.
- Unauthorized landfill attempts masked as “infrastructure development.”
- Real estate agents using forged land use certificates.
Despite its Ramsar tag, enforcement of protection laws has been patchy at best. Environmental activists argue that successive state governments have failed to prioritize the wetlands, especially amid Kolkata’s eastward urban expansion.
Expert Views: Alarm Bells from Environmentalists
Dr. Subhasis Dutta, a wetlands ecologist at Jadavpur University, issued a stark warning:
“If unregulated land conversion continues, Kolkata will lose its natural drainage system. The city may face the same kind of urban flooding seen in Mumbai and Chennai.”
He added that continued dumping could reduce the wetland’s capacity to recycle sewage, potentially forcing the city to invest crores in artificial water treatment infrastructure.
Other experts are calling for satellite surveillance and geofencing of the entire EKW area to detect encroachments in real-time.
Community Impact: Livelihoods in Jeopardy
The wetlands support over 20,000 fisherfolk and farmers who depend on the intricate system of bheris (fish ponds), canals, and paddy fields. Dumping and land reclamation threaten their only source of income.
Suman Mondal, a second-generation fisher in the Bantala region, said:
“We are losing bheris every year. The fish are dying. The water is not flowing. Soon, we will be jobless, homeless.”
State Government’s Mixed Record
While the West Bengal government has created the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority (EKWMA) under the Department of Environment, enforcement has often lagged. Environmental audits and land surveys are irregular, and inter-agency coordination has proven insufficient.
However, following the latest FIR, the EKWMA has reportedly initiated a site inspection and is preparing a report for the Chief Secretary’s office.
Way Forward: Activism, Law, and Technology
Civil society groups such as PUBLIC, People United for Better Living in Calcutta, and Sabuj Mancha are demanding:
- Immediate fencing of vulnerable wetland zones.
- Mandatory drone surveillance for land use changes.
- Public access to EKW maps and dumping alerts.
Advocates are also calling for an empowered tribunal to fast-track wetlands violations and enforce punitive action.
External Resources and Government Links
To understand the legal and ecological framework governing East Kolkata Wetlands, here are some authentic external links:
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change – Wetlands Division
- West Bengal Department of Environment
- Ramsar Sites Information – India
- National Wetland Atlas (ISRO)
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