Bhopal Government Discloses 96 Encroachments in Kerwa-Kaliyasot Green Belt to National Green Tribunal
In a significant development concerning environmental conservation, the Madhya Pradesh state government has formally acknowledged before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) the existence of numerous encroachments within the protected green belt surrounding the Kerwa and Kaliyasot reservoirs in Bhopal. The government's report, submitted during a hearing on a petition addressing these violations, reveals that a total of 96 encroachments have been identified in the no-construction zones around these critical water bodies.
Development Plan Provisions and Ongoing Actions
The state government's submission clarifies that the Bhopal Development Plan of 2005 explicitly reserves an area of approximately 150 hectares around the Kaliyasot and Kerwa reservoirs for the establishment of a Botanical Garden and regional park. This reservation is outlined in clause 2.57 of the plan, which mandates the preservation and development of this green space. In compliance with the NGT's directives, the government has instructed relevant authorities to proceed in alignment with this development plan.
Specifically, the Town and Country Planning (T&CP) district office in Bhopal has been directed to identify and demarcate the reserved area accurately. Furthermore, the T&CP department has formally requested the Bhopal Collector to issue necessary instructions to the revenue department for carrying out the demarcation of the land designated for the botanical garden and regional park, ensuring adherence to the 2005 plan's provisions.
Detailed Breakdown of Encroachments
The government's report provides a comprehensive inventory of the encroachments discovered during field inspections. Out of the 96 identified structures:
- 84 encroachments are located on government land.
- 12 constructions are situated on private land.
The nature of these encroaching structures is diverse, including:
- Samadhi (1)
- Temples (7)
- Gaushala (1)
- Temporary dairies (15)
- Shanties (58)
- Restaurants (5)
- Game zone building under construction (1)
- Sakhali farm (1)
- Pucca house (1)
- School (1)
- Biodiversity shed (1)
- Roads (3)
Removal Actions and Legal Proceedings
Significant progress has been made in addressing these encroachments. Among the encroachments on government land, 15 temporary dairies have already been removed. Additionally, eviction warrants have been issued against 69 encroachers, with a final opportunity granted until February 13, 2025, for the concerned parties to vacate the encroached land. Notably, on February 28, 2026, authorities successfully removed 28 out of these 69 encroachments.
Regarding the Kerwa Reservoir specifically, the report identifies 16 constructions located within a 33-meter radius from the Full Tank Level (FTL). Two of these are on government land, with revenue courts having ordered their removal, while the remaining 14 are on private land, requiring further action by the revenue department.
Compliance and Future Steps
The report references a meeting held at Mantralaya on February 13, 2026, chaired by the deputy secretary of the environment department, in compliance with the NGT central bench's order. During this meeting, a map was prepared by superimposing relevant Khasra records onto the coloured land use map of the Bhopal Development Plan, 2005, to clearly depict the land reserved for the proposed botanical garden and regional park.
The state government emphasizes that the process of removing encroachments and restoring government land is ongoing. This effort is being carried out strictly in accordance with orders passed by competent revenue courts and applicable legal provisions, ensuring a systematic and lawful approach to reclaiming the protected green belt around the Kerwa-Kaliyasot reservoirs.
