East Kolkata Wetlands, Ramsar wetland site in Bidhannagar, India
East Kolkata Wetlands is an extensive waterland east of the city made up of salt marshes, agricultural fields, treatment ponds, and fish farms. The area functions as one integrated system where water is cleaned and fish and vegetables are raised at the same time.
The area faced destruction in the 1990s when a major development project was planned, but a court case saved it from that fate. This legal intervention led to international recognition and protection of the wetland as a site of global importance.
Local farmers and fishermen have passed down their methods across generations, using the water for breeding fish and growing crops. They work with the seasons and blend practical water use with agricultural tradition rooted in the community.
It is best visited during dry months when paths are walkable and field activity is visible throughout the area. Flat shoes and binoculars are helpful for watching the birds and observing daily farm work.
The water is used not just for fish farming, but the fish ponds themselves act as natural cleaning chambers that break down pollutants. This biological process transforms a city waste product into a working ecosystem that feeds people.
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