Bhopal: Admin Cracks Down On Encroachments In Kerwa Dam Catchment Area

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Taking note of the encroachments on the catchment of Kerwa Dam, the district administration on Friday launched a drive to clear illegal constructions at the site.

The action comes after Free Press published a report on April 16, highlighting encroachments in the catchment beyond the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the dam.

A green activist had raised the issue of illegal constructions in the catchment and had submitted complaints to the collector, Water Resources Department (WRD), and the MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), seeking immediate action against the encroachers.

Joint teams from the WRD and revenue department, under the supervision of SDM, launched the anti-encroachment drive and demolished unauthorized constructions in the dam’s catchment area.

Green activist Rashid Noor Khan stated, “The district administration has taken action on my complaint. Land sharks had started filling and leveling the catchment areas with the intent to sell plots for farmhouse development.

The construction would have impacted the water-holding capacity of Kerwa Dam, which supplies water to several colonies in Kolar and Bairagarh—satellite townships. It was also a blatant violation of Bhoj Wetland rules meant for ecological conservation. The encroachers even tried to convert parts of the catchment into paddy fields during summer.”

SDM (Huzur) Vinod Sonakiya told Free Press, “the administration received a complaint about encroachment in the Kerwa Dam catchment beyond the FTL. After verification, our team conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Mubarakpur and Mahuakheda. The encroachers had filled and leveled parts of the catchment area.”