Archive · 29 Sep 2026
NGT Orders Bhopal Sewage Mapping to Protect Lakes, Groundwater
The National Green Tribunal gave Bhopal officials instructions to stop sewage from entering lakes and groundwater areas.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation must find and map every drain that carries sewage into water bodies.
Officials must measure how much sewage is produced, collected and treated.
They must also check whether sewage treatment plants are working properly.
The order asks authorities to study households that use sewer connections or septic tanks.
Untreated sewage must be measured during both dry weather and the monsoon.
Water near major sewage outlets must be tested for pollution.
BMC must make a plan to fix the sewage system and keep wastewater away from lakes and rivers.
The National Green Tribunal directed Bhopal Municipal Corporation to improve sewage management and protect lakes and groundwater recharge zones.
Authorities must verify ward-wise and village-wise household sewer connection data, preferably for 2025-26.
All sewage outfalls entering Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Kolar and other water bodies must be mapped with GPS coordinates and flow measurements.
The order requires monitoring of sewage treatment plants, septic-tank systems, untreated discharges and water-quality parameters.
BMC must create a time-bound plan to close treatment gaps and intercept or divert sewage before it reaches water bodies.
- Who
- The National Green Tribunal directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation and other authorities.
- What
- Authorities must map sewage outfalls, measure untreated discharge, monitor treatment plants and water quality, and prepare a sewage-management plan.
- When
- The directions were issued on Monday, with household connection data preferably covering 2025-26.
- Where
- Bhopal, including Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Kolar and other water bodies in the district.
- Why
- To protect lakes and groundwater recharge zones from sewage leakage and untreated discharge.
- Issuing body
- National Green Tribunal
- Directed authority
- Bhopal Municipal Corporation
- Required mapping
- All sewage outfalls and drains entering Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Kolar and other water bodies
- Sewage data
- Actual generation, collection and treatment, separately for BMC and the remaining district
- Treatment-plant monitoring
- Installed capacity, actual inflow, treated quantity, utilisation, technology, operational status and compliance
- Water testing
- BOD, COD, TSS, faecal coliform/E. coli, ammoniacal nitrogen, total nitrogen and phosphorus, as applicable
- Required plan
- A time-bound plan to close sewerage and treatment gaps, including sewage interception and diversion