CM Orders Crackdown on Illegal Construction Around Upper Lake

Bhopal

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday called for urgent action to protect Bhopal’s Upper Lake, highlighting its historical importance. He directed officials to curb illegal construction and remove obstructions blocking water flow from Sehore, and stressed the need for strict monitoring and immediate action against violations.

At a review meeting with senior officials, Yadav instructed authorities to stay alert to unauthorised activities around the lake. He ordered a survey to assess conservation measures and ensure violations are swiftly addressed. Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Environment Secretary Navneet Mohan Kothari, and other officials attended the discussion.

Yadav also stressed the need to prevent pollution in rivers and water bodies. He directed officials to ensure industrial units and large hotels treat their waste on-site. With the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh approaching, he called for continuous water quality monitoring and awareness campaigns on conservation efforts.

To strengthen environmental research, Yadav suggested involving universities in studying water quality and aquatic life. He emphasised regulating mining near rivers and directed local bodies to fill abandoned pits, proposing they be converted into reservoirs to improve groundwater levels in surrounding areas.

Focusing on air quality, Yadav called for efforts to reduce pollution in Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Dewas, Sagar, Singrauli, and Mandideep. He urged awareness drives to discourage crop stubble burning and stricter rules on construction activities to minimise urban dust and pollution levels.

Officials reported that ten water bodies, including Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal and Sirpur Wetland in Indore, are being processed for wetland status. Madhya Pradesh ranks among the top five states for Ramsar sites, with work underway to verify and demarcate over 13,500 wetlands statewide.