Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Upper Lake Hyacinth Removal Raises Concerns Over Aquatic Life
The Upper Lake in Bhopal has too much water hyacinth, a fast-growing water plant.
The National Green Tribunal is investigating pesticide spraying on water chestnut crops.
It is also concerned about low oxygen in the water and dead fish.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation is removing the hyacinth with machines.
But birds may have nests and eggs hidden in the plants.
Turtles, fish and frogs could also be caught by the machinery.
An expert said the work should be planned with help from ecology specialists.
He also said sewage entering the lake is a main cause of the hyacinth problem.
The BMC said it is trying to remove the plants carefully.
The National Green Tribunal acted over pesticide spraying on water chestnut crops in Upper Lake.
The tribunal expressed concern about water hyacinth, declining dissolved oxygen and fish deaths.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation intensified mechanical hyacinth removal beneath solar panels and Raja Bhoj Setu.
Experts warned machinery could disturb bird nests and trap turtles, fish and frogs.
BMC said it was taking care, while experts called for ecological planning and sewage control.
- Who
- The National Green Tribunal, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, aquatic-life experts and lake users are involved.
- What
- The tribunal is examining pesticide spraying and aquatic-life risks, while the BMC is removing water hyacinth mechanically.
- When
- The BMC intensified the removal drive from Thursday, immediately after the tribunal hearing; the tribunal ordered a report within six weeks.
- Where
- Bhopal’s Upper Lake, including areas beneath the solar panels along VIP Road and beneath Raja Bhoj Setu.
- Why
- The tribunal cited concerns about pesticide impacts, spreading hyacinth, declining dissolved oxygen and fish deaths; experts also linked the weed to sewage inflow.
Ecological caution
Municipal removal effort
Use of heavy machinery
Ecological caution
Saurabh Popli said mechanical removal by engineers could harm aquatic life and should involve ecosystem experts.
Municipal removal effort
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation said it was taking care during the operation and that no aquatic life was deliberately removed.
Effect on habitat
Ecological caution
Critics warned that nests, eggs, hatchlings, turtles, fish and frogs could be disturbed or trapped in machinery.
Municipal removal effort
The BMC described the work as part of its regular lake-conservation efforts to remove hyacinth.
Root cause of hyacinth growth
Ecological caution
Popli said polluted water and sewage inflow are the root causes and called for an integrated plan to stop sewage entering the lake.
Municipal removal effort
The BMC attributed some weed entering the lake to rainwater and focused on removing it as part of ongoing conservation work.
- Location
- Upper Lake, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Tribunal action
- The National Green Tribunal constituted a three-member joint committee.
- Report deadline
- The committee must submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks.
- Water chestnut cultivation
- Pesticides were reportedly sprayed on nearly 60 hectares of cultivation.
- Removal area
- The BMC removed large quantities of hyacinth from a 100-metre stretch beneath solar panels along VIP Road.
- Additional worksite
- Removal work was continuing beneath Raja Bhoj Setu.
- BMC position
- The BMC said the operation was being conducted with care, although some aquatic life may have been removed inadvertently.