BHOPAL: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a serious stance on the alleged encroachments in the green belt around Shahpura Lake. On Thursday, the tribunal established a committee to inspect the site and deliver a report within six weeks.
Environmental advocate Nitin Saxena’s petition to the NGT central bench alleges that the green belt has been egregiously encroached upon, with illegal structures appearing in the lake’s buffer zone, thus violating Wetland Rules.
Counsel for the petitioner, Chinmay Singh, revealed that “untreated water is being funneled into the lake, obstructing the natural drainage channels that feed it, and attempts are being made to prevent the outflow of collected water, thereby shrinking the lake’s area for further encroachment.” This has contributed to the lake’s ongoing ecological decline.
Singh emphasized that Shahpura Lake is a crucial urban water body established by the government in 1974-75 for irrigation and groundwater recharge. It originally served as an essential ecological resource, surrounded by a dense green belt and natural drainage systems that supported groundwater replenishment and ecological harmony.
However, in the last decade, Shahpura Lake has faced rapid urbanization, leading to encroachments and illegal constructions that obstruct the natural drainage systems feeding the lake.
The lake’s environmental issues are worsened by significant water pollution. Reports from the MP Pollution Control Board indicate that the lake’s water quality has deteriorated to Class-E, rendering it unsuitable for any use without treatment. This pollution primarily originates from continuous wastewater inflow from drains and nullahs that traverse densely populated areas, where untreated sewage and solid waste enter the lake.
Despite the polluted conditions, fish farming has reportedly been ongoing in Shahpura Lake’s contaminated waters, with the fish being sold for human consumption, raising serious public health alarms. Numerous eateries surrounding the lake, both permanent and temporary, often dispose of their waste directly into the water.
Environmental degradation continues even as the Bhopal Municipal Corporation undertakes beautification projects focused on aesthetic enhancements without addressing the underlying environmental issues, according to the petitioner.
After reviewing these concerns, Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi acknowledged a significant environmental issue. They issued notices to respondents for replies within four weeks and ordered the creation of a joint committee comprising representatives from the principal secretary, urban development, the water resources department, as well as the Central Pollution Control Board, and the MP Pollution Control Board.
