NGT trashes govt report as ‘vague’, seeks clarity on Kerwa-Kaliyasot encroachments

Bhopal: Describing the status report submitted by the state govt regarding identification and removal of encroachments in the green belt around Kaliyasot and Kerwa dam reservoirs as "vague", the central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) called for a fresh report. Counsel for the state govt Prashant M Harne in the status report submitted on behalf of the state government on March 16, 2026, had said that 96 encroachments have been identified in the areas prohibited for construction around the two reservoirs, 15 temporary dairies among them have been removed and process for removal of the rest is underway. The report further admitted that there was a provision for developing a botanical garden on a land measuring 150 hectares in the vicinity of boh Kerwa and Kaliyasot dams in the Bhopal Development Plan-2005 and it will be done. The bench comprising judicial member Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi in its interim order on March 17, 2026, however, said "A perusal of this affidavit of the respondent would indicate that some steps have been taken with respect to removal of encroachments in the area surrounding (catchment area and FTL) Kerwa reservoir and Kaliasot reservoir but it is not clear from this affidavit as to what is the demarcated area of Kerwa reservoir and Kaliasot reservoir and how many constructions are found to be there within the said area which need to be removed. Therefore, we find this affidavit ‘vague' and direct the counsel for the respondent – state of Madhya Pradesh to file another affidavit clearly indicating whether the demarcation of FTL and green belt at site has been completed of these two reservoirs and how many constructions are found to be there which have been removed and/or are in the process of being removed and this figure shall be mentioned separately."The green watchdog further said that the affidavit should clearly mention the details of the encroachments in submergence area as well as in the green belt zone/botanical garden around the reservoirs falling in revenue area, panchayat area, municipal area. The authorities concerned in-charge of these areas must take appropriate action for removal of the encroachments following the due procedure of law. The tribunal said that a copy of the state govt report submitted on March 16, 2026 has not been served to all the respondents in the case and asked for its distribution to all of them within two days while fixing the case for hearing on April 7, 2026.‘Very Serious Issue Of Violations Of Environmental Norms'The tribunal said that the petitioner in the case Subhash C Pandey has raised a very serious issue of violation of environmental norms by mentioning the fact that farming activities using the chemical fertilisers and pesticides are found to have taken place inside the submergence area of the reservoir. "He has urged that the agricultural activities of such type using chemical fertilisers and insecticides is very dangerous for the health of the local population of the area, where the water supply from these reservoirs is done and requested to immediately stop raising of crops inside the submergence area of these two reservoirs." the NGT bench said.The water resource department, government of Madhya Pradesh, being the custodian of these reservoirs, is directed to verify the facts in this regard and take necessary action, if violations are observed on the site, said the NGT order.The tribunal asked the petitioner to provide a copy of the said application to the other respondents, who may file reply, if any, to this application within two weeks thereafter. Necessary action should also be taken if violations of environmental laws are found while verifying the details mentioned in the application to be correct, said the NGT.On its directives dated Sept 20, 2023 and July 8, 2024 seeking an updated information on the progress of installation of treatment systems for wastewater management in nearby villages to keep the reservoirs pollution-free, the NGT said that steps taken for wastewater management at village Medora, Mendori and Khshalpura have been mentioned in the report. It has been further mentioned that a survey/study, marking and demarcation of rivers and drains falling within the villages of Chhapri, Bhanpur Kekadia, Kushalpura, Mahuakheda, Mandori, Mandora, Fatehpur Dobra and Berkhediwajyapht, situated within the catchment area of the Kerwa reservoir and the Kaliyasot river is also to be done including the effective area/buffer zone of the reservoir.