State Government has sought three more weeks to submit a joint inspection report on Shahpura Lake and its surrounding areas, citing coordination delays among four tehsils. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday granted the authorities a final three-week deadline to submit the detailed report. All parties have also been directed to file their replies within the same period. The next hearing is scheduled for November 27. Tribunal Took Suo Motu Cognisance: The NGT initiated proceedings suo motu following reports that the stop dam at Shahpura Lake had been damaged to drain water from the lake.

 

A petition filed by Nitin Saxena against the Madhya Pradesh State Wetland Authority and others was also tagged with the matter. Applicant Flags Delay In Compliance: During Friday’s hearing, the applicant’s counsel told a bench comprising Justice Shiv Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi that administrative authorities were unnecessarily delaying compliance with the tribunal’s directions. The counsel pointed out that the final investigation report had not yet been submitted. Demarcation Work Completed:

 

Appearing for the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), Advocate Parul Bhadoria submitted a status report stating that the demarcation and identification of the lake and surrounding areas had been completed on the Collector’s directions. Four Tehsils Complicate Joint Inspection: The State Government further informed the tribunal that Shahpura Lake and the adjoining areas fall under three to four different tehsils. Coordinating a joint inspection involving the concerned tehsildars and other officials had therefore taken additional time, thus the delay in submitting the joint report. The State Government however assured the bench that the report would be submitted within three weeks.