As part of the 14th Conference of Parties (CoP) that commenced in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand on Feb 11, 422 of India’s wetlands, including many situated in Gujarat, were deemed of international importance by the report, Central Asian Fly Situation Analysis, 2023.
The petitioners, meanwhile, have claimed that they are traditional agariyas (salt pan cultivators) hailing from Santalpur in Patan's Little Rann of Kutch. They have been cultivating salt there and were issued agariya pothi – a card identifying them as salt pan cultivators – in 2008.
On the floor of the Assembly, the state government conceded on Tuesday that some Narmada water does make its way to the Little Rann of Kutch and that it will take appropriate action.
The Little Rann of Kutch is a unique biodiverse landscape in India that is home to endemic species like Lesser Flamingos and Wild Asses and local arts and crafts.