R.1 Short title and commencement

       (1) These rules may be called the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
       (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

R.2 Definitions

       (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
       (a) "Act" means the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986);
       (b) "Authority" means the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority constituted under rule 5;
       (c) "dredging" means an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow sea or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing them off at a different location;
       (d) "National Park" means an area declared, as National Park under section 35 or section 38, or deemed to be declared as a National Park under sub-section (3) of section 66, of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (35 of 1972);
       (e) "Ramsar Convention" means

R.3 Protected wetlands

       Based on the significance of the functions performed by the wetlands for overall well being of the people and for determining the extent and level of regulation, the following wetlands shall be regulated under these rules, namely.--
       (i) wetlands categorised as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention as specified in the Schedule.
       (ii) wetlands in areas that are ecologically sensitive and important, such as, national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserved forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves, corals, coral reefs, areas of outstanding natural beauty or historical or heritage areas and the areas rich in genetic diversity;
       (iii) wetlands recognised as or lying within a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
       (iv) high altitude we

R.4 Restrictions on activities within wetlands

       (1) The following activities within the wetlands shall be prohibited, namely.--
       (i) reclamation of wetlands;
       (ii) setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries;
       (iii) manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances covered under the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 notified vide S.O. number 966 (E) dated the 27th November, 1989 or the Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms/Genetically engineered organisms or cells notified vide GSR number 1037 (E) dated the 5th December, 1989 or the Hazardous Wastes(Management, Handling and Transboundry Movement) Rules, 2008 notified vide S.O. number 2265 (E), dated the 24th September, 2008;
       (iv)

R.5 Constitution of Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority

       (1) The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), hereby constitutes Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority consisting of the following Chairpersons and members for the purpose of these rules, namely.--
       (a) Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India -Chairperson;
       (b) a representative (not below the rank of Joint Secretary) from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India - Member ex-officio;
       (c) a representative (not below the rank of Joint Secretary) from Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India - Member ex-officio;
       (d) a representative (not below the rank of Joint Secretary) from Ministry of Agriculture, Government of

R.6 Process for identification of wetlands under different categories

       (1) Wetlands covered under item (i) of rule 3 specified under Schedule shall be the wetland to be regulated under these rules.
       (2) The States Government shall prepare, within a period of one year from the commencement of these rules, 'Brief Document' identifying and classifying the wetlands within their respective territories in accordance with the criteria specified under Rule 3 and submit the same to Authority.
       (3) The 'Brief Document' of each wetland for identification shall comprise of following information, namely.--
       i) broad geographic delineation of the wetland;
       ii) its zone of influence along with a map (accurate and to scale);
       iii) the size of the wetland;
      &

R.7 Overlapping provisions

       (1) The wetlands within the protected areas of the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries shall be regulated by the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972(35 of 1972).
       (2) The wetlands within the protected or notified forest areas shall be regulated by the provisions of the Indian forest Act, 1927(16 of 1972); the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980(69 of 1980); and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986(29 of 1986).
       (3) The gaps in the regulation of wetlands within the protected and notified forest areas, if any, under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; shall be plugged by invoking provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
       (4) The wetlands situated outside the protected or notified forest areas r

R.8 Enforcement of regulated activities

       (1) The identified activities for management and wise use of wetlands situated within the protected or notified forest areas referred to in sub rule (2) of rule 7 shall be regulated by the Forest Department of the State concerned.
       (2) The identified activities for management and wise use of wetlands situated outside the protected or notified forest areas shall be regulated by the nodal Department or the relevant local state agencies to be designated by the State Government within a period of six months from the date of commencement of these rules.

R.9 Appeals against the decisions of Authority

       Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Authority may prefer an appeal to the National Green Tribunal constituted under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010(19 of 2010) with in a period of sixty days from the date of such decision: Provided the National Green Tribunal may entertain any appeal after the expiry of the said period of sixty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
       SCHEDULE
       [see-rule 3(i)]
       List of wetlands in India identified as Ramsar sites under Ramsar Convention on Wetland
       Serial Number Name of Wetland State
       (1) (2) (3)
       1 Ashtamudi Wetland Kerala
    &