The fragile stretch of green and water at Kottooli in Kozhikode has just been handed a judicial shield.
The Kerala High Court has ordered that no new construction be permitted in the prohibited zones of the Kottooli wetlands while the effort to secure recognition under the Ramsar Convention gathers momentum. The message was blunt: allowing concrete to creep in now would make a mockery of conservation laws meant to protect such ecosystems.
The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Somen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM, observed that permitting permanent structures during the pendency of the Ramsar designation process would undermine both the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and the very spirit of the global treaty that recognises wetlands of international importance.
Three-Month Clock Starts Now
The Court did more than just press pause on construction. It set a deadline.
Both State and Union authorities have been directed to complete the formalities for Ramsar designation within three months. Coordination between governments was specifically emphasised to ensure the proposal does not stall in procedural loops.
The case will be reviewed again in May, giving the administration a narrow window to deliver.
A Petition Rooted in Ecological Anxiety
The matter arose from a plea alleging ongoing reclamation and building activity near Sarovaram Bio Park, within the Kottooli wetland ecosystem. The concern: if unchecked development continues, the ecological character of the area could be irreversibly altered—rendering any future declaration as a protected wetland symbolic at best.
In response, the State informed the Court that the groundwork for Ramsar recognition is already underway. The Ramsar Information Sheet detailing the site’s ecological significance has been prepared and cleared by the State Wetland Authority. The proposal is expected to move to the Wetlands Division of the Union Environment Ministry.
Enforcement on the Ground
Until the international tag is secured, the Court has placed responsibility squarely on local authorities. The Kozhikode District Collector and the Kozhikode Corporation have been directed to strictly enforce wetland protection rules and ensure no new construction slips through the cracks.
At the same time, the Bench clarified that buildings already standing in the area will not be disturbed for now. Their legality will be examined at a later stage in the proceedings.
Public awareness was also flagged as crucial. Authorities have been asked to notify residents and developers about the restrictions so that fresh violations do not occur under the guise of ignorance.
A Wetland at a Crossroads
A Ramsar designation is not just a label—it signals that a wetland holds ecological value of global importance. For Kottooli, the next three months could determine whether it remains a living ecosystem of mangroves, water channels and biodiversity, or becomes yet another casualty of unplanned urban growth.
For now, the bulldozers must wait.
