Telangana yet to get Ramsar site despite vast wetland network
HYDERABAD: Despite having a vast network of lakes and reservoirs, Telangana remains one of only four states in India without a Ramsar site — an international tag given to wetlands of global importance. The other states without a Ramsar site are Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland.
As of January 2026, India has 98 Ramsar sites, with Tamil Nadu leading the list with 20, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 11. Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh secured Ramsar status for Kolleru Lake as early as 2002. However, none of Telangana’s wetlands has so far made it to the global list.
Environmentalists cite lack of official push
According to the Wetlands of India Portal, Telangana officially lists only three prominent wetlands — Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary and Pakhal Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, categorised as significant wetlands, and Kapra Lake, categorised as other wetlands. Environmentalists argue that the limited list reflects inadequate effort by the authorities.
“There are nearly 44,000 water bodies across Telangana. How do we still have such a short list of wetlands, let alone a Ramsar site?” asked environmentalist Madhulika Chaudhary. She said that while intense urbanisation within Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road has reduced the eligibility of many city lakes, several water bodies outside the ORR continue to meet international criteria.
“Kinnerasani Lake, the twin reservoirs of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar, and many others can easily be considered,” she said, speaking on World Wetlands Day.
Mohd Ishtiyaq, an environmentalist working on lake conservation in the Old City, said securing Ramsar status would help protect wetlands from encroachment and pollution. “With proper protection and documentation, the state can secure not just one or two, but multiple Ramsar sites,” he added.
Past efforts stalled, proposals revived
Forest officials acknowledged that earlier efforts failed to progress. “Studies were initiated to assess Manjeera for Ramsar nomination, but the process was stalled following administrative changes. Since then, no site from Telangana has been formally proposed for international recognition,” said C Survarna, principal chief conservator of forests, Telangana, and member secretary of the State Wetland Authority.
She said discussions have resumed and proposals are being prepared for Manjeera, Pakhal, Pocharam and Kinnerasani. District-level committees headed by district forest officers have also been formed to identify at least two potential wetlands in each district.
“These committees will work with the irrigation and revenue departments to demarcate boundaries and prepare detailed reports on the ecological health of identified sites,” she said.
Kshithija, chief conservator of forests, Telangana, said the first results are already emerging. “We expect eight to 10 proposals for wetland recognition by the end of this month. We have already received one submission for Thummalacheruvu in Khammam,” she said.
She added that around 12,000 sites across the state have the potential to qualify as wetlands. “By the end of this year, we hope to have 60 to 70 wetlands formally identified,” she said.
