What Is The Wetland Protection Act In Assam?

To address this, Assam relied on both central laws and its own initiatives, especially the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008, which became one of the state's earliest dedicated frameworks for wetland protection. While the state did not operate under a single unified 'Wetland Protection Act', it worked through a structured combination of national rules, statutory authorities, urban conservation laws, and upcoming legislative proposals to protect and rejuvenate its wetland ecosystems.

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, notified under the Environment Protection Act, served as the primary national guideline governing Assam's wetlands. These rules mandated the formation of State Wetland Authorities, identification of ecologically sensitive wetlands, prohibition of harmful activities, and the creation of management plans. Assam integrated these guidelines into its conservation approach, giving priority to ecologically important wetlands like Deepor Beel, Maguri Motapung, Son Beel, Urpad Beel, and other riverine floodplain systems hydrologically linked to the Brahmaputra and Barak basins.

In 2008, the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act was enacted with the sole purpose of protecting three major wetlands in the capital city: Deepor Beel, Silsako Beel, and Borsola-Sorusola Beel. The law was later amended in 2010. At a time when Guwahati faced severe waterlogging, unplanned construction, and degradation of natural drainage channels, this Act became a legal shield to conserve wetlands and treat them as natural reservoirs for flood absorption. It restricted encroachment, regulated land-use changes, and authorized restoration measures, ensuring that these water bodies retained their ecological and hydrological functions.

Assam also moved toward a broader urban water body protection framework through discussions around the Assam Urban Water Bodies Bill, 2024, aimed at protecting lakes, beels, and tanks within Master Plan areas across the state. This proposed legislation intended to expand the model of the Guwahati Act to other major towns facing rapid urbanization.

Beyond laws, Assam aligned wetland protection with national and state projects such as the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA), the State Action Plan on Climate Change, the Matsya Sampada Yojana, and biodiversity conservation programs. These frameworks emphasized ecological restoration, scientific management, and community-based protection.

Assam's wetlands are ecologically invaluable. The state hosts an estimated 4,800–5,000 natural wetlands, ranging from freshwater lakes, beels, oxbow lakes, marshes, ponds, and floodplain systems. They store monsoon water, maintain river flow, support groundwater recharge, and act as buffers against intense flooding. They also function as nurseries for small indigenous freshwater fish species (SIFF), which form a vital part of local nutrition and aquatic biodiversity. Assam harbors over 216 SIFF species, the highest in India, making wetland protection both an ecological and cultural necessity.

However, despite multiple legal and administrative efforts, Assam's wetlands continued to face several threats. Large-scale encroachment for real estate and agriculture, heavy sedimentation, pollution from drains, expansion of road networks, invasive species, and fragmented hydrological connections posed serious challenges. The case of Deepor Beel, Assam's only Ramsar site, highlighted how untreated sewage, municipal dumping, and habitat fragmentation could threaten even globally recognized wetlands.

Recognizing the role wetlands could play in long-term flood mitigation, Assam shifted toward using wetlands as natural reservoirs for diverting floodwaters. Surveys by NESAC identified 271 wetlands suitable for floodwater diversion, with the capacity to store massive volumes of excess rainwater. Wetlands across Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Dibrugarh, Morigaon, and Sonitpur were recommended as part of a scientific flood moderation plan, expected to reduce flood peaks by up to 80 percent in certain river catchments. This approach aligned wetlands with climate-resilient planning and water management.

In recent years, Assam also initiated large-scale rejuvenation drives, including the Wetland Rejuvenation Project for 129 major wetlands, involving dredging, desilting, channel reconnection, and fishery enhancement. These restoration projects complemented the legal frameworks and strengthened the state's commitment to sustainable wetland management.

Overall, the Wetland Protection Act in Assam is better understood as a combination of the Wetlands Rules, 2017, the Guwahati Water Bodies Act, 2008, national conservation programs, and proposed state-level legislation. Together, these laws and initiatives aimed to protect natural flood moderators, preserve biodiversity, restore fisheries, and ensure that future generations benefit from Assam's rich wetland ecosystem. With the growing impact of climate change, these protections have become essential for maintaining ecological stability, strengthening flood preparedness, and safeguarding community livelihoods.

District-wise Distribution of Wetlands in Assam