Bhopal Lake Encroachment Tussle
Bhopal: Efforts to demarcate the Free-To-Level (FTL) boundary of Bhopal’s Bada Talab (Upper Lake), mandated by a strict National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, have hit a major obstacle: impassable deep marshland.
= Teams Retreat as Terrain proves too hostile
A ground team, dispatched under the direction of the Bairagarh SDM and comprising Naib Tehsildars, surveyors, and personnel from the Forest and Municipal departments, was forced to abort the demarcation process. Revenue officials reported that both specialized equipment and human entry were rendered impossible by the extensive mud and bog.
The reluctance to proceed stems from genuine safety concerns within the Revenue Department. Officials privately noted they could not deploy staff into such adverse conditions, citing recent tragic incidents involving the loss of two Tehsildars on duty. They stressed that the demarcation must be conducted in a “stress-free and conducive manner” to yield reliable results for the NGT.
Focus on FTL amidst Land Mafia Scrutiny
The NGT recently reiterated its stringent stance on the lake’s encroachment following a petition by environmentalist Rashid Noor. The tribunal demanded a report on the FTL demarcation within two weeks.
Tehsildar Harshvikram Singh confirmed that the immediate priority is mapping the FTL for the NGT report; removal action will follow later. The area remains a hotbed of illegal activity, with land mafias allegedly using fake boundary markers to confuse the public and facilitate new encroachments. With 41 drains still dumping sewage and 227 structures yet to be cleared, the NGT’s order is critical to preserving Bhopal’s vital ecological balance.
