Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to examine and decide within six weeks a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging the discharge of untreated sewage into Gorewada Lake and seeking urgent measures for the protection and restoration of the water body.A division bench of Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode disposed of the PIL filed by corporator Shailesh Pande and directed the civic body to treat the petition as a representation and decide on the reliefs sought strictly in accordance with law.The petitioner contended that untreated sewage was being discharged into the lake, causing irreversible environmental damage, adversely affecting aquatic life, and posing a risk to public health. The plea sought immediate remedial measures, including the installation of sewage treatment and pollution-control systems to preserve the lake ecosystem.The court directed the petitioner to submit copies of the PIL and the order to NMC within a week. The civic body has been asked to communicate its decision to the petitioner within two weeks of taking a final call.The order comes amid a prolonged controversy over the condition of Gorewada Lake, extensively highlighted by TOI over the past two months. Investigations by TOI documented sewage-laden streams carrying plastic and domestic waste into the lake through a concealed route behind the Gorewada International Zoo, contradicting initial claims that the pollution originated from Dabha.TOI had also reported that NMC extracted more than 9,300 million litres of water from Gorewada in 2025 despite laboratory reports flagging bacteriological contamination. Civic officials, however, maintained that the reservoir serves only as an emergency backup source and that water supplied to consumers undergoes treatment.The PIL was disposed of without adjudicating the merits of the allegations.
