Experts Blame Demarcation Over Shrinking of Wetlands

Several water bodies in the state continue to shrink due to ambiguity over demarcation of their boundaries, experts working in the field said.

- Urvashi Dev Rawal

JAIPUR:

Water bodies in the state continue to be encroached upon by altering their original boundaries and allowing construction and encroachment in the eco-sensitive zone. The demarcation took place after the constitution of the Lake Development Authority in 2015.

"Since 2015, after formation of the state lake wetland authority, the state government officially began measuring the boundaries of water bodies on the Full Tank Level (FTL),"" said Anil Mehta of the Jheel Sanrakshan Samiti, an Udaipur-based NGO that works for environment protection. Prior to this, the measurement was done as per the maximum water level (MWL), he said.

When a lake overflows and is submerged by water, it is known as the maximum water level (MWL). When a dam is up to its brim, the water spread is significantly less; the spread is known as Full Tank Level (FTL).