Archive · 22 Aug 2026
NGT Gives Bhopal Three Months To Clear Forest Encroachments
The National Green Tribunal told officials in Bhopal to remove illegal buildings and occupations from forests and green spaces.
They have three months to clear forest land where there is no legal obstacle.
Officials must first map and mark the forest areas carefully.
After the land is recovered, it must be fenced so people cannot take it again.
The Forest Department must plant trees and restore the land within 12 months.
Green areas beside roads must also be protected and kept green.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation must map trees and open land and plan more planting.
Officials will have to report every three months on what has happened.
The National Green Tribunal ordered Bhopal authorities to remove unlawful forest-land encroachments within three months where legally possible.
A joint survey of recorded forest land in Bhopal district must use GIS, GPS and satellite imagery.
Reclaimed land must be fenced or marked with permanent boundary pillars, restored through plantation and entered correctly in revenue records.
The Tribunal prohibited concretisation in green belts and ordered mapping, tree censuses, afforestation and geo-tagging of encroachment-prone areas.
Madhya Pradesh reported about 546,089 hectares of encroached forest land, while removal action had covered only 17,496 hectares by March 2024.
- Who
- The National Green Tribunal directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, district collector, Forest Department and other authorities; the case was filed by environmentalist Dr Subhash C Pandey.
- What
- The Tribunal ordered surveys, removal of eligible encroachments, fencing, restoration and monitoring of forest land and green belts.
- When
- The order was uploaded on Aug 21; eligible forest encroachments must be removed within three months, with restoration ordered within 12 months.
- Where
- Bhopal district and municipal areas in Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The Tribunal cited ineffective action against encroachments, damage to forest cover and the need to protect public land, forests and green belts.
- Tribunal
- National Green Tribunal, Central Zone Bench, Bhopal
- Removal deadline
- Three months for forest encroachments without a lawful impediment
- Restoration deadline
- Twelve months for plantation and conversion of reclaimed land into green cover
- Forest land reported encroached in Madhya Pradesh
- Approximately 5,46,089 hectares up to March 2024
- Forest land where removal action was taken
- 17,496 hectares
- Bhopal forest-cover change
- A reported decline of around 0.54 square kilometres between 2021 and 2023
- Monitoring
- Quarterly encroachment records must include location, area, action taken and removal status