Bhopal, May 6 -- Though recent water conservation campaigns are a welcome step, Bhopal's Bhoj Wetlands continue to suffer from encroachments, tree felling and public apathy. Experts say stronger, sustained efforts are needed to protect the lakes and ensure their survival.
The Bhoj Wetlands are among the city's most vital natural assets. Comprising the Upper and Lower Lakes, they span over 32 square kilometres. The Upper Lake, built in the 11th century, still supplies drinking water to a sizeable section of Bhopal's population.
In the late 1990s, the Bhoj Wetland Project was launched with support from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). It aimed to revive the lake system through sewage diversion, desilting, afforestation a...