The Times of India               17.09.2013

Upper Lake master plan may get ready by Oct

BHOPAL: The master plan for Upper Lake is likely to be out by October. The plan, prepared by Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, would be integrated into Bhopal master plan 2031. It is another matter that nobody still knows the fate of city master plan.

Sources claimed that the BMC had requested the state government not to unveil the master plan of Bhopal before its integration in lake plan.

"The Upper Lake's master plan and Bhopal's overall master plan have to complement each other," they said. No technical glitch should affect implementation of the lake's master plan at later stage. Hence after CEPT presents the Lake master plan, the BMC will send it to the state government for integrating it with the overall master plan of Bhopal city.

The lake master plan would define the land use in and around the catchment area of the Upper Lake, hence it is extremely crucial for the conservation of the Upper Lake.

CEPT University's survey team conducted the fourth and the last phase of the survey earlier this year. Experts from CEPT gathered data from different agencies here to prepare the master plan. While preparing the plan, suggestions were also sought from people, experts, stakeholders keeping in view water management, environmental aspects, heritage and socio-economic development of people.

Riding the success of the BRTS in Ahmedabad, the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad bagged the project to prepare the master plan for Upper lake in January last year. Gujarat government has approved CEPT University as state-level anchor institute for infrastructure sector.

Bhopal's population has increased manifold from about 70,000 in 1951 to 18 lakh in 2011. This, coupled with fast urban development around Upper Lake has subjected it to various environmental problems over the years. Upper Lake along with Lower Lake was declared a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance) in 2002.

The detailed project report (DPR) being prepared for 1.64 crore for the conservation of the 10 lakes will be in sync with the Upper Lake master plan, according to the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Vishesh Garhpale.

Points to ponder