HC slams officials over polluted Shivpuri lake:Rebukes Forest Dept for decades of illegal sewage discharge

The Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has strongly criticized the Forest Department and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department over the discharge of sewage and contaminated water into Sankhya Sagar Lake in Shivpuri. While hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), the court observed that an illegal activity does not become lawful simply because it has continued for 25 years. The bench raised serious questions about the role of government officials and indicated that a high-level investigation and registration of FIRs against those responsible may be warranted. PIL alleges city sewage is being released directly into the lake The PIL, filed by Shivpuri resident Aditya Raj Pandey, alleges that sewage and wastewater from the city are being continuously discharged into Sankhya Sagar Lake, an important water body for Madhav National Park and the Tiger Reserve. The petitioner argued that the practice poses a significant threat to the environment and wildlife. During Tuesday’s hearing, the court agreed that the discharge of sewage into a protected lake is a serious legal and environmental issue. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Wednesday. Court rejects Forest Department’s defence During the proceedings, Madhav National Park Deputy Director Hari Om appeared before the court in person. He argued that waste material had been entering the lake for the past 25 years and, therefore, there should be no assumption of malicious intent. The division bench sharply rejected this reasoning, stating that an illegal act does not become legal merely because it has been occurring for years. The judges also questioned how the Forest Department had effectively given a clean chit to the agencies responsible for pollution without conducting any scientific assessment. Judges seek scientific basis for claims about water safety The Forest Department further claimed that the lake’s water falls under “Category D” and remains suitable for wildlife use despite the presence of human waste. The court expressed strong reservations about this assertion and demanded scientific evidence to support it. It questioned how water contaminated with human waste and bacteria could be considered safe for animals and directed the department to produce scientific proof. The bench also asked why the Forest Department had not commissioned an independent assessment of the lake’s water quality despite the seriousness of the situation. PHE Department’s sewage project comes under scrutiny The High Court also raised concerns about the functioning of the Public Health Engineering Department. It was informed that although the department spent crores of rupees on a sewerage line project, it allegedly failed to coordinate adequately with the local municipal body. According to the petitioner, many households were never connected to the sewerage network despite the project’s implementation, preventing it from delivering its intended benefits. Court signals possible firs and legal action The High Court observed that polluting a water source within a national park and damaging natural resources could amount to a serious offence under wildlife protection laws. The bench questioned why the Forest Department had not filed FIRs against the officials or agencies responsible despite the ongoing pollution of the lake. The court’s remarks suggest that the next hearing could focus on fixing accountability and directing legal action against those found responsible.