BHOJ
WETLANDS - ENVIRONMENT
News: NGT tells M.P. govt. to stop
motorised boats, cruise in wetlands
What's
in the news?
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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled
up the Madhya Pradesh government over the “very drastic” damage to water bodies
and ordered it to stop the operation of cruise vessels as well as other
motor-propelled boats in the Bhoj wetland.
Bhoj
Wetlands:
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The Bhoj wetland is situated in the heart
of Bhopal district in Madhya Pradesh.
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The wetland is also a Ramsar site with international importance.
Key
features:
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The wetland consists of two man-made
lakes--the upper lake and the lower
lake.
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The upper
lake, the oldest among large man-made lakes in central India, was created
by King Bhoj in the 11th century by
constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans River and the lower lake was
constructed nearly 200 years ago mostly from the seepage from the upper lake.
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It provides drinking water to 1.2 million
people.
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About 2,500 migratory birds across the
world visit the wetland that serves as a breeding and nesting habitat for them.
Threats
to the Bhoj Wetland:
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The Bhoj wetland faces various threats
from urbanization and human settlements
on all sides.
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In recent years, there have been plans to
introduce cruise vessels in the area, which could have a detrimental impact on
the ecosystem.
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Small
cruise vessels with passengers can pollute water bodies
with sewage, wastewater and other contaminants.
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Additionally, a mid-sized cruise vessel
can consume 150 tonnes of fuel each day and dump toxic waste in the water.