The Hitavada, the CSWA reiterated that any breach may attract action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, including five years of imprisonment or a fine up to Rs 1 lakh-or both. The action comes in response to a detailed complaint filed by ENT specialist and social activist Dr Rakesh Gupta on May 15, 2025. In his letter, Dr Gupta raised alarm over the Raipur Municipal Corporation’s plan to construct a toy train track along the banks of the Narhaeswar Wetland. “Even before official approval, the Corporation has begun removing previously laid paver blocks to make way for a permanent rail track-clearly violating wetland regulations,” he wrote.

 

 

Citing Rule 4 of the 2017 Wetlands Rules, which prohibits any permanent construction within 50 metres of the highest recorded flood level since December 2000, Dr Gupta underscored that even the existing pavers-laid inside the buffer zone-were themselves illegal. “Such permanent activities severely degrade the wetland’s ecological character,” he warned. Crucially, the Narhaeswar Wetland spans over 2.25 hectares, thus falling under the purview of the Supreme Court’s 2017 directive for strict conservation enforcement. Dr Gupta also accused the district administration of persistent inaction. He pointed out that despite a statewide directive issued on May 8, 2023, asking the Collector to survey all waterbodies in Raipur district, only one-Karbala Talab-has been surveyed so far. “The delay is deliberate. The administration is either shielding those responsible or showing utter disregard for

 

 

environmental compliance,” he told this newspaper reporter. He further cited the case of Sendh and Jhanjh wetlands in Naya Raipur, where violations eventually led to a CSWA directive to file a formal court complaint under the Environment Protection Act. “Had the Collector acted swiftly on Narhaeswar too, irreversible ecological damage could have been prevented,” Dr Gupta asserted. Environmental experts say wetlands play a crucial role in

 

groundwater recharge, flood control, and biodiversity support. Construction within their buffer zones not only violates statutory protections but also endangers urban resilience. Activists argue that the proposed toy train track, if laid, would fragment the natural habitat, affect migratory birds, and permanently alter the floodplain’s hydrological profile. The CSWA has now asked the Collector to verify on-ground conditions in accordance with Rule 4 and keep the Authority informed. The Supreme Court is currently monitoring wetland conservation enforcement across India under suo motu proceedings, adding gravity to the dire