Dead Fish Float in Bhopal's Ramsar Site

A foul smell from dead fish in Bhopal’s Lower Lake is troubling thousands of daily visitors to lakeside parks and nearby institutions. The worst-affected area is Khatlapura Ghat, a popular public spot. On May 17, large dead fish were seen floating along the lake’s edge, right in front of the Police Headquarters and several government colleges.

Parks like Karishma Park and others near the lake, usually busy with morning walkers and people relaxing in summer, became unusable because of the strong stench. Locals say the smell and fish deaths got worse over the past few days, especially near Khatlapura, where dead fish piled up the most.

Visitors complained they could not sit or walk in the park. One regular visitor said,

“The smell is so strong that we cannot even sit in the park, let alone go for a walk. It is everywhere.”

Dead fish foul Lower Lake

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleans this area regularly, but dead fish keep appearing. Devendra Patel, BMC Additional Commissioner, said, “BMC’s lake conservation cell will be deployed to deal with the problem of fish deaths. Although the lake is being cleaned under the Jal-Ganga Samvardhan Yojana, we will look into this specific situation if it continues.”

Brijesh Sharma, regional officer from the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) said,

 “We will collect water samples from Lower Lake to investigate the cause. This is a big issue because many people are affected.”

However fish deaths in Lower Lake are not new. On April 19, 2025, dead fish were found in several water bodies in Bhopal, including Khatlapura Ghat, Shahpura Lake, and Munshi Hussain Khan Talab. 

According to reports, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) attributed the fish deaths to rising water temperatures. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, making it difficult for fish to breathe and survive.

Lower Lake is part of the Bhoj Wetland, recognised internationally as a Ramsar site. A Ramsar Site is a wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

The Upper Lake, called Bhojtal, was built in the 11th century by damming the Kolans river. The Lower Lake was built later and depends on seepage. It lies in the middle of Bhopal city.

In April, Brijesh Sharma had said,

“At first glance, it seems the oxygen level has decreased because of high temperature. But we will collect water samples to check for chemicals and pollution.”

He added,

“High water temperatures reduce oxygen in the water, making it hard for fish to survive. We will test the water to rule out pollution or chemical contamination.”

Who’s responsible?

Fish die in reservoirs due to environmental stress such as pollution, temperature changes, lack of oxygen, and heavy metals.

Polluted drains are choking Shahpura pond," said environmental activist Rashid Noor.

"The falling oxygen levels are killing the fish. It's urgent the Municipal Corporation stops the inflow and cleans the water."

On fish farming, he added,

"Tilapia breed fast, which is why they’re raised here. But selling them from this polluted pond should be banned immediately."

Meanwhile, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has doubled the lake conservation budget. In the 2025–26 budget, funds for lake management increased from ₹21 crore to ₹46 crore. This comes as part of the city’s ₹3611 crore budget, which is ₹258 crore higher than the previous year.

Madhya Pradesh State Wetland Authority says there is no threat to Bhoj Wetland’s Ramsar status. The Madhya Pradesh government has been enforcing the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, which ban solid waste dumping and untreated discharge into wetlands. The Centre and state jointly run the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, under which ₹432.03 lakhs were sanctioned for Bhoj Wetland since 2018, with ₹200 lakhs already released.

Experts recommend real-time water monitoring, community involvement, and low-cost innovations like floating islands with toxin-absorbing plants. Kerala offers a successful model by restoring lakes through mass cleaning and oxygen balancing.

The recent fish deaths in Lower Lake point to urgent action needed. With the right mix of government support, local participation, and smart monitoring, Bhopal’s lakes can recover.

A scientific study titled Effect of Environmental Pollutants on Fish Health: An Overview explains how industrial and chemical waste adds toxic substances to water. These substances harm fish reproduction and survival.

As per the study, oxygen dissolved in water drops when water temperature rises. Fish then struggle to breathe. Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae blooms. When algae die and rot, they use up oxygen, suffocating fish. Pollution also brings heavy metals and chemicals that poison aquatic life.

The study mentions water quality depends on factors like dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, and turbidity. Dissolved oxygen is the most important for fish. Levels below 3 mg/L harm fish, and 1 mg/L water cannot support aquatic life.

Many lakes in India have low oxygen levels, based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board.

Pollution comes from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and garbage. Climate change makes the problem worse by raising water temperature and spreading invasive plants that consume oxygen.

Bhopal’s lakes suffer pollution from sewage and garbage dumping. Religious events add organic waste, which lowers water quality further.

How to prevent fish deaths

Kerala offers a good example to control fish deaths. The Kerala State Biodiversity Board and Forest Department clean reservoirs on a large scale. They increase green cover along the banks and add clean water to keep oxygen and temperature balanced.

Local community involvement and real-time water quality monitoring help manage the problem in Kerala.

Bhopal’s authorities could adopt similar steps to protect Lower Lake, a Ramsar site. 

Studies show many water bodies in India have low oxygen, making them unable to support fish and other aquatic life. Pollution from sewage, garbage, industrial waste, and chemical runoff lowers oxygen and adds harmful substances. This causes fish deaths and damages ecosystems.

Researchers stress the importance of collecting real-time water quality data using sensors. This data helps track pollution, guide regulations, and monitor cleanup efforts. Long-term studies show which solutions work best over time. Local actions matter. Community involvement and simple innovations, like floating islands with plants that absorb toxins, help clean water.

Governments must improve wastewater treatment, control industrial pollution, and promote greener farming. Combining strong laws with local efforts can restore water bodies and protect aquatic life. Many lake and pond restoration projects have started in India and worldwide. Decentralised governance and local efforts often work best because they address local issues directly.

Collecting data with automated, geotagged, time-stamped sensors helps identify pollution spread. Reliable data supports regulatory decisions and early warnings and assesses the success of cleanup efforts.

Long-term studies show which solutions can last. Regulations, policies, and funding for wastewater treatment, waste management, and pollution control can improve water quality. Agricultural pollution must also be addressed by promoting greener practices that reduce chemical use. Stakeholder involvement and innovation are crucial.

Supporting low-cost innovations and involving local communities can help scale up lake restoration efforts. When people take part in managing water bodies, it builds a sense of shared responsibility and ownership. Working together through collective decisions can reduce conflicts and bring long-term benefits to lakes and ponds. The recent fish deaths in Lower Lake highlight the urgent need for action. With proper monitoring, government support, and community involvement, Bhopal’s lakes can recover and thrive again.

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