The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the central government, the Bihar state administration, and environmental regulators following reports of severe ecological degradation at Kanwar Lake, Asia’s largest oxbow lake.
A bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad directed the respondents to submit their response affidavits to the tribunal’s Eastern Zonal Bench in Kolkata at least one week prior to the next hearing scheduled for August 31.
Wetland Shrinkage and Biodiversity Loss
The tribunal took suo motu cognisance of media coverage detailing environmental deterioration at the designated Ramsar Site, situated in Cheriya Bariyarpur, 20 kilometers north of Begusarai in Bihar. Created by the natural meandering of the Burhi Gandak River, the wetland historically covered approximately 63 square kilometers. However, falling water levels and ongoing human encroachment have fragmented the contiguous lake into smaller, isolated water bodies.
According to the findings noted by the bench, the wetland’s reduced water spread has led to a steep decline in fish populations and overall biodiversity, threatening the livelihoods of local fishing communities dependent on the ecosystem. Several native fish species have reportedly diminished or vanished entirely from portions of the lake.
Legal Compliance and Remedial Steps
Emphasizing that the wetland holds international importance and requires strict protection of its ecological character, the bench observed that the situation raises significant issues regarding compliance with the Environment (Protection) Act, the Biodiversity Act, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
To address these concerns, the tribunal impleaded key regulatory and administrative bodies as respondents. These include the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar’s Chief Secretary, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, the National Biodiversity Authority, and the Bihar Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force.
The bench highlighted essential conservation and restoration measures necessary for the lake’s survival, including re-establishing a link with the Burhi Gandak River, officially mapping and delineating the lake’s boundaries, removing illegal encroachments, addressing check dam or embankment structures, and ensuring adequate replenishment through monsoon recharge and groundwater seepage.
