Bhopal's Bhoj Wetland Ramsar status under scrutiny due to encroachments
The National Green Tribunal has ordered Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to map wetlands and finalise draft notifications within three months.
The Ramsar Site status of Bhopal's Bhoj Wetland, including the Upper Lake, could be withdrawn if encroachments are not addressed, according to the Free Press Journal.
Dr Subhash C Pandey, an applicant in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) case and a member of the survey committee, said he may approach the tribunal to seek removal from the Ramsar List if the situation is not resolved.
The Bhoj Wetland was designated a Ramsar Site of international importance in November 2002. Pandey noted that Article 4.2 of the Ramsar Convention allows for the deletion or partial removal of a wetland under certain provisions.
Following a hearing on October 29, the NGT directed the chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to identify and document wetlands. The states must finalise draft notifications within three months and ensure compliance with the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
The tribunal specified that the inventory must include geographical coordinates, Khasra numbers, wetland types and GIS-based maps showing boundaries. Authorities must also document ecological characteristics and land-use patterns for each proposed notification.
The NGT also flagged a pending report regarding the Kaliasot Dam and directed it be submitted at the earliest. The tribunal will hear the matter again on January 7, 2027.