Bhopal's Upper Lake Faces Another Encroachment Survey Amid Skepticism
In Bhopal, teams from the district administration, led by respective Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), have initiated yet another survey to demarcate the no-construction zone from the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the Upper Lake and identify encroachments in this critical area. The central question looming over this exercise is whether it will finally lead to the logical conclusion—the removal of encroachments—or if it will become just another in a series of surveys conducted at least three times previously under directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and courts. Despite past efforts, encroachments on the banks of the Upper Lake have continued to proliferate over the years.
Wetland Rules Violated by Numerous Structures
The area extending 50 metres from the FTL of the Upper Lake, which is part of the Bhoj wetland and designated as a Ramsar site, is legally a no-construction zone under wetland regulations. However, this zone is currently occupied by hundreds of structures, including farmhouses, bungalows, marriage halls, restaurants, and small houses or shanties. Areas such as Bishsankhedi, Suraj Nagar, Khanugaon, and Bairagarh are among the most severely affected by these violations.
Task Force Formed to Monitor Process
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Ankur Meshram leads a 17-member Task Force constituted by the district collector to oversee the survey, demarcation, and eventual removal of encroachments in the prohibited area around the lake. When questioned about the administration's seriousness in removing encroachments this time, Meshram stated, "The process has already begun. If you have any particular structure in mind and only when it's demolished, you would believe that the encroachments are being removed, it's a different matter." He clarified that the Task Force itself will not be involved in the survey or demolition activities; these tasks are to be carried out by teams led by respective SDMs, who are currently on the job. For instance, SDM T T Nagar is reportedly conducting demolitions in her jurisdiction even as discussions are ongoing.
Addressing why another survey is necessary despite previous ones, Meshram explained, "If any SDM says that he has a complete list of encroachments in the area and demarcation in the area is also complete, it's fine with us but where the exercise is incomplete, they have to finish it and report to the Task Force, which is meeting on Friday, Feb 27." The Task Force includes members from various concerned departments such as revenue, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), town and country planning, MP Pollution Control Board, all SDMs, police officials, and two private environmental activists.
Political Initiative and Historical Context
The formation of the Task Force followed a meeting earlier this week with local MP Alok Sharma to discuss encroachment removal from the Upper Lake vicinity. Sharma, who took the initiative as a member of the Parliament's standing committee on Environment, expressed his commitment to saving the lake, stating, "I wish to save the Upper Lake. To me, it represents the pride of Bhopal. Look at the irony, Raja Bhoj in 11th century constructs this beautiful man-made huge lake and we are ruining it despite the fact that it's a source of potable water for us."
Challenges and Skepticism Within the Committee
Despite these efforts, skepticism persists within the committee itself. Some members believe that without firm action, removing encroachments will be difficult. Nitin Shrivastava, a private member of the committee, highlighted two major challenges: "There are two major problems in the task even if the collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh has best of intentions. One, the group of people who present Habbenama or Inayatnama (letters of donation) from erstwhile rulers of Bhopal or present papers to show that the land they occupy belongs to Waqf Board and then you have rich and powerful, who have farmhouses and bungalows or hotels or marriage gardens on the land and administration is wary to take action on them."
This skepticism appears justified based on recent NGT orders. On February 15, the NGT central bench, hearing a petition by Arya Shrivastava, sternly told the BMC counsel that it was not there to decide on land titles but wanted encroachments removed. The counsel noted that 35 encroachments were identified towards the Bhadbhada end of the lake, but only 9 could be removed due to local resistance, with some cases pending in court over rights and titles.
Legal Formalities to Be Followed
Meshram assured that any removal of encroachments will adhere to all legal formalities, including guidelines set by the Supreme Court, NGT, or other courts. This cautious approach underscores the complex legal and social challenges involved in addressing the longstanding issue of encroachments around Bhopal's iconic Upper Lake.
