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DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v14.i4.3
Sumit Mondal
Assistant Professor (Political Science)
Durgapur Institute of Legal Studies, WB, India
Abstract— The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) represents one of the most distinctive examples of an urban ecological system where natural processes are integrated with human livelihood practices. It is situated on the eastern fringe of Kolkata,these wetlands serve as a natural wastewater treatment facility, while also supporting fisheries, agriculture, and biodiversity. This article critically examines the ecological importance, socio-economic roles, legal structures, and governance challenges associated with the East Kolkata Wetlands. It posits wetlands as a sustainable urban ecology based on resource recovery that exemplify a form of circular economy, where waste is transformed into valuable inputs contributing to sustainable urban ecological processes. The threats to their long-term viability are significant, posed by rapid urbanization, encroachment, environmental degradation, and weak institutional frameworks. The article highlights the gap between legal provisions,their implementation, and governance challenges thereby emphasising the need for a balance between them. However, sustaining the East Kolkata Wetlands requires rethinking urban development in alignment with ecological resilience, environmental justice, and sustainable governance.
Keywords: East Kolkata Wetlands, sustainable, urbanization, biodiversity.
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