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Degradation has stripped the wetlands of Bengaluru of all their value. The loss in value is a staggering 99.8%, according to a study by Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The study put the valuation of a relatively pristine wetland in Bengaluru at Rs10,435 per hectare per day. However, a polluted wetland of the city is valued at a mere Rs20 per hectare per day. The value is estimated by quantifying the benefits that people get from the wetlands every day in terms of water, fodder and so on. The IISc study, incidentally, provided Koramangala residents enough ammunition against the setting up of an SEZ in Bellandur wetlands in violation of environmental laws. Hearing a petition filed by the residents and activists, the National Green Tribunal last week slapped a Rs 140 crore fine on two builders implementing the SEZ project. The study, titled "Conservation of Bellandur Wetlands: Obligation of Decision-makers to Ensure Intergenerational Equity", was undertaken by Dr T V Ramachandra and others of Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc. The project has tellingly illustrated the threats faced by wetlands of Bengaluru. Pointing out that the number of water bodies in Greater Bangalore has shrunk from 207 in 1973 to 93 in 2010, the study says 72% of them have lost their catchment areas, 66% are now sewage fed and 14% are hemmed in by slums.