The National Green Tribunal has taken up concerns over the alleged degradation of Bhopal’s Lower Lake and directed the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board to inspect the site and submit a detailed report. The order comes amid claims of encroachment, shrinking lake area, untreated sewage inflow, and ecological damage in the buffer zone of the Bhoj Wetland.
Tribunal Action
The central bench of the NGT asked the MP Pollution Control Board to examine the lake and verify the allegations raised in the petition. The board has been directed to file a report with photographs and latitude-longitude details to support its findings.
Key Allegations
The petition alleges that the Lower Lake is facing constant degradation due to:
- Encroachment in the 590-metre buffer zone.
- Dumping of garbage, soil and boulders on the banks.
- Untreated sewage discharge into the lake.
- Tree cutting and construction-related disturbance.
- Reduction of lake area through so-called pitching work.
Environmental Concerns
The petition argues that the lake’s water quality has deteriorated severely and is no longer fit for use. It also states that the surrounding wetland ecosystem is under pressure from illegal activities and lack of effective protection by civic and environmental authorities.
Notices and Next Hearing
The NGT has issued notices to the district collector, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, MP Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Department of Town and Country Planning, Ministry of Environment and Forest, and the State Wetland Authority. The tribunal has fixed 7 May 2026 as the next date of hearing.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026