NGT Report Uncovers Severe Ecological Damage to Historic Jhansi Water Body
A recent hearing before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has brought to light alarming environmental degradation at the historic Laxmi Tal in Jhansi. The three-member principal bench, led by Justice Prakash Srivastava, reviewed a comprehensive report submitted by a joint committee formed on the tribunal's directions. The findings paint a grim picture of significant and potentially irreversible ecological harm inflicted upon this 17th-century Maratha-era water body through extensive concretization efforts.
Drastic Reduction in Water Body and Widespread Concretization
The joint committee's investigation revealed that the original expanse of Laxmi Tal, which once measured 33.068 hectares, has been dramatically reduced to a mere 20.76 hectares of actual water surface. A substantial portion of the area has been consumed by construction activities implemented under the Jhansi Smart City project. These include a concrete island at the center featuring a statue, a 3.5-meter-wide concrete pathway encircling the entire pond, along with drains, bunds, parking spaces, and fencing.
Critical Water Quality Deterioration and Pollution Sources
Perhaps most concerning is the severe deterioration in water quality. The report grades Laxmi Tal's water as 'E', indicating extremely low dissolved oxygen levels and high bacterial contamination. This classification means the water is unsuitable for most purposes, limited only to uses like irrigation and industrial cooling. A major contributor to this pollution is a nearby 26 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP), constructed at a cost of approximately ₹35 crore, which is reportedly operating below capacity. This failure results in the discharge of a mixture of untreated and partially treated sewage into the pond from multiple drains and residential colonies.
Regulatory Failures and Wider Environmental Impact
The committee also identified significant regulatory lapses. The privately operated STP has not obtained the mandatory consent to operate under the Water Act and Air Act from state pollution control authorities. The pollution is not confined to Laxmi Tal; it is affecting the nearby Narayan Bagh, a century-old green zone known as the city's "oxygen chamber," where significant vegetation including old trees has already been damaged. There are growing fears that contamination could spread further towards Garhmau Jheel, potentially causing a wider ecological disaster.
Expert Warnings and Local Consequences
Environmental experts have emphasized that excessive concretization disrupts the natural self-cleaning mechanisms of water bodies, transforming them into stagnant reservoirs where water quality rapidly declines. In recent months, this degradation has manifested in repeated incidents of fish deaths within Laxmi Tal. Local residents have consistently complained about persistent foul odors emanating from the area, underscoring the worsening environmental conditions.
Remedial Measures and Legal Perspectives
In its recommendations, the joint committee stressed the historical and environmental importance of Laxmi Tal, stating that "the overall water quality of Laxmi Tal has become poor and the water ecosystem is damaged." The committee urged the district authority to prepare an action plan for mitigation and restoration of the pond's natural integrity, with assistance from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the Environment Department of Bundelkhand University.
Applicant Narendra Kushwaha indicated that additional points overlooked in the report would be presented to the tribunal. Advocate Akash Vashishtha described the report as "very crucial and critical," highlighting its importance in understanding the full severity of the environmental degradation affecting this historic pond.
