National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal, has issued a directive to install CCTV cameras to curb illegal construction activities around Sirpur Wetland in Indore.
The order underscores the urgent need to safeguard this ecologically sensitive Ramsar site from unchecked urban encroachments, highlighting the critical role of surveillance and enforcement in sustainable urban planning. The directive follows a petition filed by an environmental activist highlighting rampant unauthorised building within the 50-metre buffer zone of the Full Tank Level (FTL) of Sirpur Lake. This wetland, recognised internationally for its ecological importance, is increasingly under threat from construction projects that not only disrupt the natural habitat but also jeopardise the water quality and biodiversity that are vital for ecological balance.
Officials from the National Green Tribunal have issued formal notices to key stakeholders, including the Indore Municipal Corporation, the District Collector, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, and the Wetland Authority, emphasising their statutory duty under the Public Trust Doctrine to preserve and protect these natural resources. The order strictly prohibits any construction within the wetland area and water bodies and forbids future sewage treatment plant constructions within the FTL zone. Experts point out that wetlands like Sirpur play an irreplaceable role in urban climate regulation, groundwater recharge, and sustaining biodiversity, thus supporting the broader goals of zero net carbon and sustainable city development. Encroachments threaten to destabilise these critical ecosystem services, making regulatory vigilance indispensable.
The tribunal also expressed serious concerns regarding the environmental impact of biomedical waste disposal in water bodies. Hospitals and health care establishments, it stated, are major contributors to water pollution through improper waste management. Despite regulatory frameworks such as the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, these institutions have often evaded accountability, risking public health and environmental safety. The NGT’s directive mandates health care providers to adopt either captive social and liquid waste management systems or avail of common facilities compliant with environmental norms. This move aligns with sustainable urban health infrastructure practices that are essential to protect water bodies from toxic contamination.
To ensure strict compliance, the Chief Secretary has been tasked with convening an inter-departmental meeting involving public health, irrigation, environment, urban development, and revenue authorities. The objective is to coordinate efforts for the implementation of the tribunal’s directives and to institute a robust monitoring framework. The NGT has also called for regular water quality assessments to maintain aerobic conditions that sustain aquatic life, reinforcing the importance of scientific intervention in urban water body management. Such measures are crucial for preserving water bodies as resilient ecosystems amidst rapid urbanisation pressures.
This regulatory push in Indore reflects a growing recognition across Indian cities that safeguarding natural water bodies and wetlands is foundational to building equitable, gender-neutral, and eco-friendly urban environments. Enforcement actions like these underscore the critical balance between urban development and ecological preservation. As Indore moves to implement these stringent measures, the challenge remains to sustain public engagement and institutional accountability, ensuring that wetland conservation is not merely a legal mandate but a shared responsibility integral to the city’s long-term environmental and social wellbeing.
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