BMC Under Fire For Jal Ganga Abhiyan Lapses; Officials Claim 54 Wells, 43 Step-Wells Cleaned | FP Photo
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is facing criticism over the failure of the first phase of the Jal Ganga Jal Samvardhan Maha Abhiyan-2024, as water bodies remain in poor condition despite the high-profile campaign.
Environmentalists and Mayor-in-Council (MiC) members have dismissed the initiative as an “eye-wash,” alleging that BMC merely removed floating plastic waste from select water bodies. The next phase of the Maha Abhiyan is set to launch on March 30, targeting the same locations for another round of cleaning.
Ironically, the Kaliyasotriver, where Abhiyan-2025 will be inaugurated, is itself in a dire state, exposing what critics call the BMC’s negligence in water conservation efforts. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously fined BMC ₹121 crore for discharging sewage, biomedical waste and solid waste into water bodies.
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The tribunal also mandated regular cleaning of lakes, installation of effluent treatment plants (ETPs), common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and sewage treatment plants (STPs), but satisfactory progress has not been achieved. Despite criticism, BMC claims it cleaned 54 wells and 43 step-wells, along with lakes and ponds, in 2024. Officials say they plan to target the same numbers again this year.
Verbal Slugfest “Nothing substantial has been done for water conservation. The campaign started in 2024, but since it was our first attempt, we couldn’t clean the water bodies as expected. This time, we will focus on fixing the lapses.BMC teams have only been removing garbage, but no permanent measures have been taken to check pollution. That needs to change”
-Jagdish Yadav Mayor-in-Council
“We cannot say that no work was done last year during the Jal Ganga Abhiyan.Despite some initial teething problems and shortcomings, efforts were made to clean water bodies in Bhopal during the first phase of the campaign. Even step-wells were whitewashed and cleaned.This time, we expect better results as the entire BMC team will be working towards it”
-Kishan Suryavanshi BMC Chairman
“Last time, we cleaned 54 wells and 43 step-wells, along with lakes and ponds. This year, we will target the same water bodies but with a better approach to upgradation. Step-wells were renovated and whitewashed, but after a year, many have been damaged again. This time, we will focus on repairs and other necessary initiatives to ensure long-term conservation”
-Udit Garg BMC Superintending Engineer (Water Supply)
“NGT fined BMC Rs 121 crore for discharging sewage, biomedical waste, and solid waste into water bodies,” Khan said. “It also issued directives to protect Motia Talab by improving water quality and preventing pollution. But nothing was done in the first phase of the 2024 Jal Ganga Abhiyan. Simply removing polythene bags does not serve the purpose. Real, long-term solutions are needed”
-Rashid Noor Khan Environmental activist
“It was nothing but an eyewash when the campaign was launched last year. The ponds are still polluted. In my ward, the pond near 5 No. Bus Stop remains contaminated. Sewage is still mixing into Upper Lake due to the non-maintenance of STPs. If BMC is just removing garbage from the periphery of water bodies, it’s nothing but a show-off and a mockery of the campaign.”
-Guddu Chauhan Congress corporator
