Vadodara: Loss of wetlands trapped the rain?

As Vadodara slowly swims back to normalcy after being waterlogged following 20 inches of rainfall in a day, the spectre of its lost wetlands looms ominously.

A study by the Gujarat Ecological Society shows that the city lost 41.04 hectares of wetlands between 2005 and 2018, close to 30.5% of its total wetland area, due to reclamation. This distinctive ecosystem is interconnected with river channels and ensures that rainwater finds its way out.

The research-based NGO that concentrates on conservation says in its study titled Status of Wetlands in Vadodara that in 2005, the city had around 134 hectares of the distinct ecosystem, but in a mere five years, it lost 32.31 hectares.

The study, which took into account the city's 48 wetlands spread over 13 wards, found that the maximum depletion took place in ward no 3 and 9, which encompass the eastern area of the city, and Bapod and Warasiya. Their wetlands measured 27.5 and 26 hectares respectively, which then came down to 16 and 11 hectares. That's a loss of over 65% and 85% in these two wards.

Deepa Gavali, an ecologist, who researched the subject along with fellow scientist Jayendra Lakhmapurkar, said that most reclamation has happened in catchment areas or in the periphery of wetlands, shrinking them in size. "The number of rainy days for the city has dropped from 60 in the 1990s to 25 in 2018.

"However, the quantum of annual average rainfall remains the same. This means the rainfall per day is on the rise," said Gavali. And with the loss of the interconnectivity provided by wetlands, the rising river water has nowhere to go.

Neha Sarwate, an environmental planner, says wetlands are also home to 80% of rural and urban biodiversity. "Our administrators and legislators look at wetlands as wastelands," she says. "They don't understand the role they play in flood management. Moreover, government bodies lack data about these ecosystems required to take crucial decisions regarding urban planning."

The study also mentions that the absence of wetland policy and notification of water bodies worsen the situation. The state only recognises large swathes, while interconnected water bodies and small wetlands in urban and rural areas are not notified. This gap allows for their easy reclamation. There is a need for urban bodies to maintain a detailed list of small and big wetlands in their areas to protect them.

"Wetlands need to be integrated into urban development as they also help recharge groundwater levels," said Gavali. "We need to learn to link wetlands with disaster management."