347 illegal encroachments surround Bhopal’s Upper Lake, only 50 removed:No action against properties built by influential people

In the removal of a total of 347 encroachments falling within the boundary of Bhopal’s lifeline Bada Talab (Upper Lake), major negligence by the administrative machinery has come to light. These encroachments are in the urban section of Bada Talab within a 50-meter radius from the FTL, that is, Full Tank Level. So far, only about 50 encroachments have been removed, while action has not been taken on several encroachments by influential people and government encroachments. After the reprimand from NGT (National Green Tribunal), encroachments were listed in March. A total of 347 encroachments or illegal occupations came to light. These include encroachments on both government and private lands. After the survey, a 15-day timeline was set on the instructions of the then Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, in which action in different areas was scheduled from April 6 to 21. Teams were formally constituted. Coordination with police and municipal corporation was also done, but action stopped from April 15. Meanwhile, in whatever action has been taken so far, major encroachments were left out. Bhopal’s new Collector Priyank Mishra had said in a discussion with media on Thursday, a day earlier, that Bhoj Wetland is the pride of capital Bhopal. Whatever our role is, we will improve it. We will take forward the good work and overcome the challenges. This action was taken in 4 days It was decided to take action from April 6. On this day, slums and shops in Bhadbhada were removed. On April 10, Tehsildar Harshvikram Singh’s team took action at the lakeside in Halalpura. Action was taken on a farmhouse ahead of a marriage garden. 25 tin sheds and pucca rooms, boundary wall built illegally behind Halalpura bus stand Gulshan Garden, and 6 shops with tin shutters built illegally in the Karbala area were also demolished through JCB. On April 13, action was taken in Sevania Gond and Gauragaon and boundary walls of some encroachments were demolished. 3 photos of the three actions taken so far, see No action taken here yet Action was proposed to be taken on April 11 in Bairagar behind Kashiyana Bungalow. Similarly, on April 15-16, constructions including houses and marriage gardens in Bairagar were to be removed, and on April 17, encroachments from government land in Huzur Tehsil were to be cleared, but the administration did not take action on all four days. Sources say that after the Collector’s transfer on April 12, the matter cooled down. Responsible officers stopped the action as soon as the old Collector left. The special thing is that in the 15-day action schedule, on April 18-19, remaining encroachments in TT Nagar are to be removed, on April 20, remaining encroachments in Bairagar are to be demolished, and on April 21, final action in Huzur Tehsil is proposed. These constructions fall within a 50-meter radius of Upper Lake Demarcation of Bada Talab’s boundaries also underway According to sources, Hotel Ranjit located on Van Vihar Road, Hotel Torkus, Annatas Garden, and a part of Lake House are coming under this. Apart from this, a significant portion of Bada Talab included in Bairgarh tehsil area is also under the purview. These government and private properties also within the 50-meter radius See in Bhaskar Investigation, Luxurious Houses Built Within Lake Boundaries Dainik Bhaskar captured the encroachments violating Bhopal’s lifeline from a height of 200 feet in a drone camera. About 9 months ago, a 2-story house was built connected to the FTL. It also has a swimming pool. The TT Nagar SDM circle team has listed it. These encroachments include influential people as well as Hotel Jehan Numa, Sayaji, Van Vihar, and even Nagar Nigam’s government constructions. Despite this, they have not been removed yet. Government encroachments along with private ones It should be noted that in the survey conducted last month, government encroachments have also come to light along with private ones. Within the 50-meter radius of FTL, Sair Sapata, Boat Club, Wind and Waves Hotel, and a part of Van Vihar are also included. More encroachments at these places There are 220 encroachments in Bairgarh Circle. In TT Nagar, notices have been issued after identifying 127 encroachments. These include 59 private and 78 government ones. The administration had also done demarcation in Sevniya Gond, Prempura, and other areas. Near Van Vihar, constructions including Jock Restaurant, Lahar Restaurant, Winds and Waves, Hotel Ranjit Lakeview, 26 shops of Food Zone, Game Zone, Kachra Cafe, Sulabh Complex, and Lahar Gym are included. Expert Rashid Noor explained that no construction should take place within a 50-meter radius in urban limits and 250 meters in rural limits, but permanent constructions have been built right next to the FTL boundary. Sequence of events so far First Survey: DGPS survey in 2016, but report not made public In 2016, the Municipal Corporation conducted a DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) survey. This is a technique for accurate land measurement, which brings out more information compared to GPS. It collects precise data on land boundaries and dimensions. In this survey, the area of Bada Talab was stated to be 38.72 square kilometers, whereas earlier this area was considered to be 32 square kilometers. Its report contains the coordinates of the lake’s FTL. Based on these coordinates, boundaries can also be determined on the ground. The ownership rights of private land falling within the lake’s boundary can also be determined, but this report remained buried in the corporation’s files. The report has not been disclosed till date. Second Survey: 141 Pillars Disappeared This year, the NGT had given directions to survey Bada Talab. In this, only 802 out of 943 pillars were found. Of these, 337 pillars were submerged underwater, meaning they were installed before the FTL. 141 pillars were missing from the site, but after this, no concrete initiative was taken to reinstall the pillars and prevent encroachment. Third Survey: Conducted on Supreme Court’s directive, no trace of the report This year, a survey was conducted following the Supreme Court’s directive. The district administration conducted the survey in collaboration with the MP Lake Conservation Authority, but there is no trace of this report. This report has not come to light yet. Nor has it been mentioned in any government document about what happened to this survey? It is said that this report is recorded on a mobile app. Until this comes into documentation, demarcation cannot happen on the ground. CM gave instructions 6 months ago, MP said master plan should be made The government is serious about Bada Talab, but the negligence of responsible officials is coming to light. About six months ago, CM Dr. Mohan Yadav had given instructions in a meeting of the Urban Housing and Development Department to conduct a fresh survey of encroachments around the lake. Meanwhile, some time ago Bhopal MP Alok Sharma had advocated for making a master plan for Bada Talab. He had said that the lake could be protected by making a master plan. More than 1300 encroachments had come to light within a 50-meter radius of Bada Talab. Only 1 major action in 10 years, no displacement for months About two years ago, a total of 386 houses were removed from Bhadbhada slum settlement. NGT had ordered the action. This was the only major action against encroachment in the catchment area of Bada Talab in 10 years. After this, plans were made, but they did not materialize on the ground.