Nagpur: More than 15 years after the Bombay High Court first intervened over Nagpur’s sewage flowing into the Nag River and eventually reaching Gosikhurd reservoir, little appears to have changed on the ground. The Nagpur bench has once again taken suo motu cognisance of the problem.Taking note of a TOI report, a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Rajnish Vyas has sought replies from the Centre, Maharashtra govt and other authorities on the continuing threat to water quality and public health. The respondents have been given four weeks to file their replies.The latest proceedings revive a concern that first came before the court in 2010. The High Court had then taken cognisance of media reports alleging that NMC was discharging the city’s sewage into the Nag River, which eventually contaminated Gosikhurd reservoir, then under construction. Notices were issued to the state govt and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.The court had appointed senior counsel late KH Deshpande as amicus curiae and stressed the urgency of addressing the problem. NMC was also asked to seek assistance from the Wardha-based Centre for Science in the filtration process.The issue has returned to the judicial spotlight as Nagpur generates around 520 million litres of sewage every day. Of this, approximately 423.5 million litres is treated, while about 320 million litres of treated water is supplied to the Koradi and Khaparkheda thermal power stations. The remaining treated water is discharged into the Nag River, according to the material before the court.The river’s downstream flow towards Gosikhurd has raised concerns over the reservoir’s water quality and the possible impact on communities dependent on it.The present proceedings follow the court’s earlier decision to appoint advocate Rushda Khan as amicus curiae. She was directed to be provided with relevant documents, while the municipal commissioner was asked to assist her in obtaining information required for the proceedings.
