For centuries, seven lakes have sat at the heart of Ujjain, a city considered one of the holiest in India. Known as the Saptasagars, these water bodies are woven into the city’s religious and cultural identity. Yet for years, encroachments crept in, drains emptied into their waters, and kiosks and homes rose along their banks.
It took a legal application before the National Green Tribunal to force a reckoning. Now, with demolition drives underway, drainage lines rerouted, and compliance reports filed in court, Ujjain’s authorities are scrambling to restore what was quietly being lost.
What Happened
Authorities in Ujjain have demolished 24 roadside kiosks, seven residential structures, and two boundary walls as part of a court-ordered drive to protect Govardhan Sagar, one of the city’s seven historically significant lakes known as the Saptasagars.
The action follows an order dated February 4, 2025, by the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Central Zone Bench in Bhopal, in Original Application No. 11/2022 (CZ), filed by applicant Bakir Ali Rangwala. The application alleged that Govardhan Sagar, located near Nagar Kot Mata Temple, was being encroached upon, polluted by untreated wastewater, and used for commercial and construction activities.
Govardhan Sagar lies on Survey No. 1281, measuring 7.716 hectares, in the city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. A fresh demarcation of the lake was conducted on December 8, 2025, using modern survey techniques, under the direction of the Tehsildar of Ujjain City and the Superintendent of Land Records, District Ujjain.
The State of Madhya Pradesh filed its Action Taken Report before the NGT on February 18, 2026, through Standing Counsel Prashant M. Harne.
How the Problem Was Identified
As per the NGT order dated January 23, 2026, the Tribunal directed the Collector and Municipal Corporation to take remedial action in mission mode, remove encroachments within a fixed timeline, and file a compliance report.
During demarcation, revenue officials identified permanent and temporary constructions covering approximately 1.150 hectares of the lake’s total recorded area of 7.716 hectares. A detailed list of encroaching structures was prepared by the Patwari and Revenue Inspector of Circle-1.
Notices were issued to 100 alleged encroachers on September 16, 2022, and again on January 10, 2025. However, as per the report, stay orders were obtained by several parties. Fifty-two encroachers secured stays from the Court of Fourth Civil Judge, Senior Division, Ujjain, and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Indore Bench. Five others secured interim protection from the Court of Civil Judge, Junior Division, Ujjain.
As per the report, applications to vacate these stay orders were filed before the competent civil court on January 17, 2025. The matters are listed for hearing on February 24, 26, and 27, 2026.
Steps Taken to Stop Pollution
On October 9, 2025, the Sub-Engineer and Assistant Engineer of the Ujjain Municipal Corporation confirmed that sewerage and drainage water from Ganesh Tekri had stopped entering Govardhan Sagar. A new drain was constructed under the Chief Minister Infrastructure Scheme to divert this flow. Drainage from V.D. Cloth Market is now routed to the Surasa Treatment Plant through a sewer pipeline.
On February 9, 2026, a joint inspection by officials of the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the Ujjain Municipal Corporation found that wastewater from 20 to 30 houses in Shriram Colony was still entering the lake through household drains. The Public Health Engineering Department took immediate action. As per the report, no wastewater is currently entering Govardhan Sagar.
Status of the Other Six Lakes
As per the compliance report filed in O.A. No. 20/2025 (CZ), inspections confirmed that no sewerage, drainage water, or solid waste is entering Rudrasagar, Kshirsagar, Pushkar Sagar, Purushottam Sagar, or Vishnu Sagar. All wastewater from these lakes is being diverted to the Surasa Treatment Plant.
Ratnakar Sagar, located at Village Undasa outside municipal limits, is maintained by the Water Resources Department. Correspondence has been issued to the department to prevent encroachment and discharge of sewage or solid waste into this lake.
As per the Tehsildar’s report, the administration had begun conservation measures for all seven Saptasagar lakes even before the NGT proceedings were initiated, under a joint team constituted by order dated July 18, 2020.
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