SC Steps In: Bihar Ponds Face Encroachment Crisis

The Supreme Court has intervened in a critical environmental case involving the alleged encroachment of three historic water bodies in Darbhanga, Bihar. These water bodies, Ganga Sagar, Digghi, and Harahi, which have existed for nearly a millennium, are reportedly threatened by a 'beautification' project initiated by the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO).

Civil society groups, under the banner of Talab Bachao Abhiyan (TBA), have petitioned the apex court, accusing the government of encroaching upon these lakes by filling parts of them to construct kiosks and restaurants. Petitioners cite violations of previous orders from the National Green Tribunal, High Court, and the Supreme Court itself. They seek the restoration of these ponds to their original historical states.

Darbhanga, once known as the 'city of ponds' with an estimated 350 in 1964, now has fewer than 100, indicating a loss of around 250 ponds in the last 60 years. Experts warn that filling these water bodies will destroy biodiversity and their natural self-cleaning capabilities, exacerbating a looming water crisis.

Environmentalists emphasize that preserving these water bodies requires maintaining their entire ecosystem, including water quality and biodiversity, alongside community involvement. The plea to the Supreme Court highlights a broader trend of water body decline across Bihar, with a nearly 19% drop in water bodies recorded between 2019 and 2025.