International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Wetland Management and Conservation in Kamrup Metropolitan District, Assam: A Critical Socio-Legal Analysis of Governance and Judicial Activism

Author(s) Mr. SHYAM KRISHNA KALITA, Ms. BHAIRABI SHARMA
Country India
Abstract Wetlands are important ecosystems that sustain biodiversity, regulate hydrological cycles, and provide socio-economic benefits to communities. In the Kamrup Metropolitan District of Assam, wetlands such as Deepor Beel, Silsako Beel, and Borsola Beel illustrate the ecological importance of wetlands, yet they have faced severe stress from urbanisation, encroachment, waste dumping, and pollution. This paper undertakes a socio-legal analysis of wetland governance, situating local challenges within national and international frameworks. At the international level, instruments like the Ramsar Convention of 1971, the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change of 1992, and the Sustainable Development Goals establish wetlands as ecological commons, mandating conservation, preservation and sustainable use. Nationally, constitutional provisions such as Articles 48A and 51A(g), statutory enactments including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, alongside policies such as the National Environment Policy (2006) and the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (2015), provide layered protections to it. At the state level, the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008, and the Assam State Wetland Authority embody localised governance, though their effectiveness is undermined by issues such as institutional overlap, political pressures, and inadequate enforcement. Judicial activism has emerged as a critical force in bridging the gap between law and practice. Landmark decisions by the Supreme Court have entrenched various doctrines such as the Public Trust Doctrine, Precautionary Principle, and Polluter Pays Principle, while interventions by the Gauhati High Court and the National Green Tribunal, most notably in Rohit Choudhury v. Union of India, have reinforced wetland protection by mandating closure of polluting sites near Deepor Beel. The analysis demonstrates that although robust legal frameworks exist, their success depends on institutional coordination, the will of the Government, and participation of communities. Preserving wetlands of Assam is essential not only for ecological integrity but also for sustainable urban growth and livelihood security in Assam’s rapidly expanding metropolitan hub.
Keywords Wetlands, Ramsar Convention, Environmental law
Field Sociology > Administration / Law / Management
Published In Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On 2026-05-29
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.79870
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