Chandrapur: The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has ordered a joint ground inspection of Irai and Zarpat rivers in Chandrapur district after conflicting claims emerged over implementation of river-deepening works.The direction came on Wednesday during the hearing of a public interest litigation of 2022. The court, comprising Justices Anil S Kilor and Rajnish R Vyas, said the dispute could not be settled merely through affidavits.The inspection will be conducted jointly by representatives of the petitioners, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and officials from Chandrapur collector’s office. The collector has been directed to give 48 hours’ notice before the inspection. A report of the findings will have to be incorporated into a fresh affidavit before the next hearing on Oct 21.The dispute centres on measures proposed to address water-management issues involving the two rivers. In an earlier 2024 order, the court had noted eight short-term measures, while feasibility studies were underway for longer-term interventions, including pumping water into Wardha river.The collector, in an affidavit filed on Jan 23, 2025, detailed steps reportedly taken and the utilisation of District Mining Fund resources. However, petitioners’ counsel SP Bhandarkar disputed the claims, maintaining that no river-deepening work had actually been carried out.The field inspection is expected to provide an independently verifiable account of the work undertaken and help the court assess the competing claims.
