NGT Directs Bhopal Municipal Corporation to Remove Encroachments Along Upper Lake

Bhopal: The central bench ofNational Green Tribunal(NGT), on Friday, expressed its displeasure over the failure of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to submit a reply on compliance with its order over the removal of encroachments in the ‘no construction zone' on the banks of Upper Lake, directing the civic body to take necessary action to remove unauthorised structures along the banks, enforcing the Wetland Rules in letter and spirit.The green tribunal also sought an action taken report (ATR) within two weeks thereafter.The order came in response to a petition in the Rashid Noor Khan Vs Collector in Bhopal on Friday. The NGT, in its brief order, stated, "Counsel for the BMC has submitted that notices have been issued to the person against whom the allegations of encroachment have been levelled and the BMC is under process to dispose it, according to rules, providing an opportunity for hearing.The tribunal shows its displeasure against Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for not submitting the replies in time in spite of clear cut directions during the last hearing on this matter." Advocate Harshwardhan Tiwari, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that in compliance with the previous order of the central bench on Oct 7, 2025, the encroachment which had been enumerated in the para 18 had not been specifically addressed by the BMC.To this, the counsel for ministry of environment & forest, Sapna Aggarwal, submitted that in accordance with provisions contained in Wetland Rules prohibited activities, restricted activities and regulated activities are to be complied with by the local administration and in case of any violation, the state Pollution Control Board (PCB) has to take necessary action.After hearing arguments on both sides, the bench comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi pronounced the order, stating, "(The) BMC is directed to act in accordance with the previous order, remove the encroachments and enforce the Wetland Rules strictly in letter and spirit.The action taken report should be filed within two weeks." The bench set the next hearing in the matter on Nov 12.Expressing disappointment with the regulatory authorities and local administration, including the municipal corporation, over their failure to remove encroachments within 50 metres of the Upper Lake's full tank level (FTL), demolish the existing ones and check discharge of untreated sewage and garbage in the lake, which is also a major source of drinking water for Bhopal residents, the tribunal stated that a private individual is not expected to have resources, access to records and other logistic requirements to identify the encroachments on his own, which is why he sought to get it done by moving the green bench.The bench asked the MP Pollution Control Board to forward the list to the collector and BMC commissioner for examination and action on any violations of the Wetland Rules, 2017, and to submit a report within two weeks. "There will not be discharge of any untreated water into the water bodies, and right, title and interest of any person or any property in case of any grievance or dispute may be raised before a competent forum, revenue court or civil court," bench said.