Authorities identify hundreds of violations around Upper Lake, but removal remains slow as Ramsar site faces ongoing pressure

Encroachments Choke Bada Talab

Bhopal's iconic Bada Talab, also known as Upper Lake, continues to face severe encroachment threats, with surveys revealing widespread violations in its buffer zone. Officials have identified numerous illegal structures, including houses, hotels, and boundary walls built perilously close to the Full Tank Level (FTL).

Surveys Reveal Scale of Violations

Recent demarcation drives across zones like TT Nagar and Bairagarh have flagged significant encroachments. In TT Nagar circle, 127 violations were marked, with 59 private and 78 government-related. Bairagarh saw 220 cases, where removal efforts are reportedly underway. Overall, reports point to hundreds of structures within prohibited areas, many within 50 metres of the FTL in urban stretches.

NGT Directives Spark Action

The National Green Tribunal has repeatedly pulled up authorities for delays in protecting the lake, a designated Ramsar site of international importance. Following NGT rebukes and petitions highlighting sewage inflow and boundary violations, fresh surveys gained momentum. In early 2026, revenue teams identified 153 illegal structures within the 50-metre buffer in key areas, prompting a pre-Holi crackdown under Wetlands Rules.

Influential Structures Under Scanner

Encroachments involve private bungalows, swimming pools, farmhouses, and commercial setups. Hotels such as Jahannuma, Sayaji, Wind and Waves, and restaurants near Van Vihar have come under scrutiny. Government constructions, tourism facilities like the boat club, and even slums along the shoreline feature in lists. In areas like Sewania Gond, Bishankhedi, and Surajnagar, fencing, tin sheds, and permanent buildings stand within restricted zones.

Historical Neglect and Multiple Surveys

Past efforts have yielded limited results. A 2016 DGPS survey pegged the lake's area at 38.72 sq km but the report stayed buried. Subsequent checks found missing FTL pillars—only 802 of 943 located, with many submerged or vanished. Despite Supreme Court and NGT directions for demarcation, encroachments persisted. Experts note no construction is permitted within 50 metres in urban areas, yet violations continue unabated.

Sewage and Environmental Risks

Sewage from dozens of drains flows into the lake, worsening pollution. Environmentalists point to land mafia tactics, including fake pillars confusing boundaries and low-priced plot sales. The catchment area sees farmhouses and resorts crowding edges in villages like Bhadbhada and Gauragaon.

Impact on Bhopal's Lifeline

As a vital water source and biodiversity hub hosting rare birds, Bada Talab's degradation threatens Bhopal's ecological balance and drinking water security. Public health concerns rise with untreated inflows, while the Ramsar status demands stricter conservation under Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

What Lies Ahead for Lake Protection

Authorities have issued notices and begun some removals, but large-scale action awaits. A task force monitors progress, with demarcation targeted before festivals. MP Alok Sharma has pushed for a master plan, and CM directions emphasise fresh surveys. Sustained enforcement will determine if the lake's lifeline can be reclaimed before irreversible damage sets in.

Fresh survey triggers crackdown ahead of Holi as authorities face NGT deadline

In a major development concerning Bhopal's ecological conservation, revenue officials have identified 153 illegal structures within the 50-meter Full Tank Level (FTL) buffer zone of the iconic Upper Lake, popularly known as Bada Talab. The discovery has reignited concerns over rampant encroachment at the Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance.

The survey, conducted across TT Nagar subdivision and surrounding areas, revealed a mix of temporary slums and permanent constructions—some allegedly owned by influential individuals. Additionally, encroachments were detected on 15 parcels of government land in Khanugaon, where surveying teams faced minor altercations with residents on Friday.

Wetlands Act 2022 Triggers Automatic Action

Officials have clarified that any construction carried out after March 16, 2022—the date when the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules came into effect—within the prescribed FTL buffer zone will be considered illegal regardless of permissions granted by municipal corporations or panchayats.

"In urban areas, the buffer is 50 meters from the FTL, while in rural areas it extends up to 250 meters," a revenue department official explained. "Post-2022 constructions face immediate action, while older structures must produce valid clearances from multiple agencies."

Two-Tier Action Plan Unveiled

Authorities have formulated a comprehensive strategy to address the Bada Talab FTL demarcation violations:

For post-March 2022 constructions: Automatic categorization as unauthorized, leading to immediate demolition proceedings

For pre-2022 structures: Owners must produce permissions from Municipal Corporation, Panchayat, Town and Country Planning, Environment Department, and Forest Department. Officials will investigate who granted these clearances.

Areas Under Scanner

The encroachment survey covered multiple villages including Sevania Gaud, Dharmpuri, Prempura, Aamkheda, Piplakhedi, Kotra Sultanabad, and Barkhedi Khurd. Specific findings include:

- 108 constructions in TT Nagar subdivision villages

- 3 houses near Khanugaon

- 7 houses in Halalpura

- 35 houses in Kohefiza

- Encroachments on 15 government land parcels in Khanugaon

Notably, officials marked red lines near the boundary wall of a college linked to MLA Arif Masood, as well as near bungalows of a minister and an IAS officer on VIP Road, indicating the crackdown extends across political and bureaucratic circles.

Demarcation Deadline Before Holi

District Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh has directed all Sub-Divisional Magistrates with jurisdiction around Upper Lake to complete demarcation before the Holi festival. The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board has been tasked with identifying drains discharging sewage into the lake.

MP Alok Sharma, who raised objections regarding the encroachment three days ago, has advocated for a comprehensive master plan for the lake's protection.

A Decade of Surveys, Minimal Action

Despite three separate surveys over the past ten years—including a 2016 DGPS survey, an NGT-directed survey, and a recent Supreme Court-ordered survey—sustained action has remained elusive. Only one major eviction drive occurred in the last decade when 386 homes were removed from Bhadbhada slum settlement two years ago following NGT orders.

Environmental expert Rashid Noor emphasized the gravity of the situation: "Upper Lake is a Ramsar site of international importance. No construction should exist within 50 meters in urban limits. Yet permanent structures, farmhouses, and resorts have been built right up to FTL markers in Bhadbhada, Bisankhedi, Gauragaon, and Suraj Nagar."

Allegations of FTL Marker Manipulation

Complicating enforcement efforts are reports of irregularities in FTL boundary markers. Five different types of markers have been found along the lake's edges, with only one bearing the "BMC" inscription. Encroachments are reportedly concentrated around questionable markers, raising concerns of deliberate manipulation by land mafias.

As authorities race against time to complete demarcation before Holi, environmentalists hope this crackdown—unlike previous efforts—will translate into sustained on-ground enforcement protecting Bhopal's vital water heritage.