Bengaluruās Bellandur and Varthur lakes might become a priority wetland that requires protection from governmental bodies.
Story so far: The national and state wetland committees have included Bellandur and Varthur lakes in the list of water bodies that require protection. They are 2 of the 10 water bodies that the state has proposed to the Centre for it to declare as wetlands.
- The other bodies included are the Magadi Lake, Ranganathittu, Gudavi bird sanctuary, Bonal Lake, Heggeri Lake, Hidkal Lake (Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary), KG Koppa and the Myristica swamps of Kathalekan.
Why it matters: Identifying and tagging these areas as wetlands would increase the popularity of the already protected sites. It would also highlight their importance to both citizens and the government alike.
Ramsar sites: During the meetings of the wetland committees in March and May, the Aghanashini estuary was given top priority. Along with this, the committees pitched it as a Ramsar site to authorities again.