NGT Survey Of Bhoj Wetland Delayed Due To Encroachments

The National Green Tribunal (NGT)-directed ground-truthing survey of the Kerwa reservoir for Bhoj Wetland has been delayed due to extensive soil filling, alleged encroachments, and disrupted water flow.

The survey team, consisting of members of a special committee, observed several locations where soil and debris appeared to have been dumped to raise land levels, while constructions and roads were found close to the water-spread area.

The team was informed that a bridge in the Kerwa area, which helped retain water and facilitate the reservoir reaching its Full Tank Level (FTL), was damaged. With water continuing to flow out, the reservoir has not reached its natural FTL, making it difficult to establish its original boundary.

Committee members discussed the possibility of a temporary stop-dam or emergency arrangement, noting that Kerwa is an important source of drinking water for Bhopal. The detailed Kerwa survey has been deferred for now due to insufficient water and uncertainty over the natural FTL.

The committee will submit its observations to the NGT, which will decide the further course of the survey and action. Over 3,000 truckloads of debris were allegedly dumped in the catchment near Mahua Kheda village in 2025, following which the NGT took suo motu cognisance and directed its removal.

The committee is also examining private and government-related projects, including tourism activities, for their possible impact on the reservoir. Environmentalist and committee member Rashid Noor Khan stated that the survey should document how encroachments and soil filling have altered Kerwa's natural character and FTL.

Khan suggested that existing Water Resources Department boundary markers, revenue records, historical markers, satellite imagery, and technical maps should be compared before determining the original water-spread area. He also recalled an earlier complaint regarding mining and debris dumping in the area, saying the impact on drainage and surrounding structures needs detailed assessment.

The delay in the survey is significant, as it affects the establishment of the original FTL of the Kerwa reservoir. The NGT's decision on the next course of action will be crucial in determining the future of the Bhoj Wetland.

The Bhoj Wetland is an important ecosystem, and its preservation is essential for the environment and the people of Bhopal. The NGT's intervention is a step towards protecting the wetland and ensuring that it is not damaged by human activities.

In conclusion, the delay in the NGT survey of the Bhoj Wetland is a cause for concern, and it is essential that the NGT takes prompt action to establish the original FTL of the Kerwa reservoir and protect the wetland from further damage.