Ramsar wetland crisis: Notices to Shivpuri admin, MTR director

Bhopal: Show-cause notices have been issued to the Shivpuri district collector by the State Wetland Authority and to the director of Madhav Tiger reserve (MTR) by the state's Chief Wildlife Warden over the deteriorating condition of Sakhya Sagar Lake, also known as Chandpatha, a Ramsar-designated wetland located within Madhav Tiger Reserve.The action follows the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) taking cognisance of a complaint filed by wildlife activist Nitin Saxena, which was based on a TOI report highlighting rising pollution levels in the lake.The issue was initially raised by outgoing principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and head of forest force V N Ambade, who, in a letter written in the final days of his tenure, raised concerns over the ecological health of the wetland and warned of potential consequences for wildlife.Addressing the Chief Wildlife Warden, Ambade had noted that he had highlighted the issue during a wetland conservation workshop held in Khajuraho in September 2025, but no visible corrective action had followed. "This lake is extremely important and useful for all wildlife of the Madhav Tiger Reserve. If its pollution is not controlled, the possibility of an unfortunate incident in the future cannot be ruled out," he wrote.Forest officials have long pointed to the inflow of untreated sewage from Shivpuri city into the lake as the primary cause of pollution. The discharge has led to the rapid spread of water hyacinth, an invasive species that affects dissolved oxygen levels and degrades aquatic habitat. Sakhya Sagar sustains a range of aquatic biodiversity, including crocodiles and fish, which are crucial to the reserve's ecosystem and food chain.Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey had also made his representation to authorities, warning that polluted water bodies can act as carriers of pathogens and zoonotic infections, drawing parallels with past wildlife disease outbreaks in Gir National Park. He had called for urgent commissioning of sewage treatment plants (STPs), an independent ecological audit, and strict enforcement of Ramsar Convention norms.Environmentalists say that despite multiple official meetings held in July 2024 and September 2025, effective steps to stop untreated sewage from entering the lake are yet to be implemented. Officials said the show-cause notice seeks an explanation from the district administration regarding delays in addressing the issue, and further action will be taken based on the response.