The Bombay High Court has initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation to monitor the conservation and preservation of wetlands in Maharashtra.

A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said it was initiating the plea based on December 2024 order of the Supreme Court asking all High Courts to initiate proceedings for protection of wetlands, also known as Ramsar Convention sites, across the country.

The High Court issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Maharashtra government and the Maharashtra Wetlands Authority in the matter. It also appointed senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas as amicus curiae to assist the court.

The bench posted the matter for hearing on 25th of February. Ramsar convention sites are wetlands designated as being of international importance. India is home to 85 such sites, three of which are in Maharashtra. These are Lonar Lake in Buldhana district, Nandur Madhameshwar in Nashik district and Thane Creek.