Supreme Court says 10 km radius buffer for mining extends to all wetland reserves
The Supreme Court of India has clarified that a 10 km mining buffer zone, originally applied to the Asan wetland reserve, extends to all wetland conservation reserves nationwide. The court directed environmental authorities to verify the location of reserves to ensure consistent application of the ban.
Why it matters
This ruling sets a significant legal precedent for environmental protection and land-use regulation across India's diverse ecological zones.
The Supreme Court orally clarified on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) that a direction banning mining activities within 10 km radius of the Asan wetland conservation reserve, a Ramsar site in the State of Uttarakhand, would apply to other wetland conservation reserves across the country for the sake of parity.
“Wherever it is a community or a wetland conservation reserve, Asan [directions] will be applied. Wetlands are in a different category… We are conscious of the extent to which we are laying down parity. It is not that it [directions] would apply to Madhya Pradesh or would apply to West Bengal only…” Justice Joymalya Bagchi, part of the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, observed.
The court was hearing an application filed by the State of Himachal Pradesh arguing that the 10 km radius restriction imposed in Uttarakhand should not apply to it.
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