Without urgent conservation efforts, Mumbai’s wetlands may vanish completely, leaving city exposed

Flamingos in the wetland areas of Navi Mumbai. PIC/ADITYA PRADHAN

The evening of July 26 2005 will forever remain imprinted in the memories of every Mumbaikar. The whole city was flooded and many lost their lives. A major factor contributing to this disaster was the loss of Mumbai’s wetlands—the natural buffers that once absorbed excess floodwater. Today, Mumbai has lost 71 per cent of its wetlands, which significantly contributes to the city’s vulnerability to flooding. The impact of wetland loss is not unique to Mumbai. Cities across India are facing similar challenges, including water insecurity, flooding, and the loss of essential ecosystems.

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Across India, wetlands are vanishing at an alarming rate. For instance, Chennai has lost 90 per cent of its wetlands, and cities such as Vadodara, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have also seen significant declines. In Mumbai, the rate of wetland degradation has led to increasingly severe monsoon floods in certain parts of the city.

Wetland loss has a nationwide impact, with the average annual........

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