Supreme Court expands wetland demarcation to all water bodies

The Supreme Court has expanded its wetland identification and demarcation mandate to cover all water bodies nationwide, linking their protection to the constitutional right to life (Article 21). States must file compliance affidavits within four weeks. Tamil Nadu was cited as a model state, having demarcated 2,614 of its 28,898 wetlands, and was given four months to complete the exercise.