23-07-2025
‘Selective ban as heavy vehicles crush Upper Lake ecosystem'
Bhopal: Bada Taal, also known as Upper Lake, requires safeguards beyond addressing encroachment and contamination issues.
The constant traffic of heavy vehicles on VIP Road poses a significant threat, according to environmental specialists and this too should be addressed, they say.
Large trucks, dumpers and intercity buses could cause lasting damage to the lake's delicate ecological balance. These vehicles should be subject to restrictions similar to those recently imposed on e-rickshaws, say experts
"The VIP Road was never meant to be a traffic artery—it was a protective measure for the lake," says National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment (NCHSE) director general and former Bhoj Wetland Project official, Pradeep Nandi.
"Bhoj Wetland project's priority was to establish a buffer zone, remove encroachments and stop garbage from flowing into Bhojtal. Even the Boat Club side was designed to restrict vehicular movement.
The road's role was secondary—meant to ease congestion, not invite it. Today, we're seeing the consequences of ignoring that vision." Environmental advocates highlight that while e-rickshaws face new limitations, large vehicles such as dumpers and intercity buses continue to utilise VIP Road, which borders Bhojtal and hosts endangered migratory birds.
Conservationist Kamal Rathi addresses broader concerns about chemical pollution from tyre wear at the lake among others.
"VIP Road was designed as a bypass route, not as a transit path for heavy vehicles passing near a Ramsar wetland," he says. "The BRTS scheme intended to reduce traffic on city centre highways, but inadequate implementation has resulted in unfulfilled objectives. Currently, the discharge of tire-based contaminants, specifically 6PPD-quinone (highly toxic to aquatic life and impacts food chain), into Upper Lake via rainwater drainage presents a substantial environmental concern.
Scientific research indicates this substance inflicts harm to the liver and nervous system of water-dwelling organisms, even in minimal quantities. We must acknowledge Bhojtal as a thriving ecosystem rather than viewing it as an alternative traffic route."
Existing national and state highways passing through the city centre should be decongested, as originally proposed under the BRTS scheme. This was part of the broader intention to route heavy traffic away from sensitive zones like VIP Road and Bhojtal in the city. Conservation specialists advocate for a fresh assessment of traffic management near the lake, stressing the importance of balancing environmental preservation with urban transport requirements.
