Lower Lake ‘decline’: NGT now asks MPPCB to submit report

Bhopal: After multiple orders and directions on Upper Lake encroachments and degradation, the NGT has now turned its attention to the Lower Lake. The central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order directed the MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) to inspect the lake, ascertain the allegations made by the petitioner on constant degradation and present a detailed report with photographs with latitude and longitude details in support of its findings. The petitioner, Rashid Noor Khan, in his petition seeking green tribunal's intervention for restoration of Lower Lake said that in the absence of efforts to protect the Lower Lake, the areas adjacent to Lower Lake is being encroached upon, the lake area is shrinking as boulders are being placed on its banks in the name of 'pitching' by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) itself and its water quality has deteriorated to an extent that it can't be used for anything. Had it been properly looked after, it could have been another proud jewel of Bhopal like the Upper Lake, he added. Arguing the case on behalf of the petitioner, advocate Harshwardhan Tiwari said that not only blatant erncroachment in the 590-meter buffer zone of the Lower Lake is the problem but bigger problem is its worsening quality of water due to discharge of untreated sewage water into it. There are being deliberate attempts to reduce area of the lake by dumping garbage, soil and boulders and cutting of trees in the periphery of the lake. Presenting pictures of the banks of the Lower Lake before the tribunal, he said that the pictures clearly show the continuing environmental damage and illegal activities being undertaken in and around the buffer zone of the wetland. They show illegal cutting of trees, construction-related activities, disturbance of the natural ecosystem and other actions adversely affecting the Bhoj Wetland and its surrounding ecological area, he said.The district administration, civil body or the environmental watchdogs like MPPCB, CPCB or Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO) have shown no interest towards protecting the Lower Lake from continuous degradation and restore its grandeur, he said. Following arguments, the NGT bench comprising judicial member Pushpa Satyanarayan and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi sent notices to district collector, Bhopal, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC),MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), department of town & country planning (T&CP), ministry of environment & forest and state wetland authority. Seeking their response, NGT fixed May 7, 2026, as the next date of hearing.