Home / Environment / NGT: Shahpura Lake is a Wetland, Encroachments Must Go
NGT: Shahpura Lake is a Wetland, Encroachments Must Go
3 Sep
Summary
- Water bodies over 2.25 hectares are legally defined as wetlands.
- Shahpura lake, spanning 49.11 hectares, is confirmed as a wetland.
- Encroachments must be removed from Shahpura lake's prohibited zone.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) central bench has issued a significant ruling clarifying the definition of wetlands. Citing a Supreme Court order and a Union environment ministry notification, the NGT stated that any water body or reservoir spanning more than 2.25 hectares is legally considered a wetland. This definition is binding under the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
The ruling came during a petition concerning encroachments around Bhopal's Shahpura lake. Records indicate Shahpura lake covers 49.11 hectares, confirming its status as a wetland, which cannot be disputed. The NGT has directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to demarcate the lake and its buffer zone.
Environmental activists argued that authorities were neglecting Shahpura lake, treating it merely as a conduit for sewage. The NGT noted that the Madhya Pradesh State Wetland Authority identified 13,565 wetlands in MP based on the 2.25-hectare parameter, although other figures suggest a higher number. The authority has been asked to clarify this discrepancy.
