Nagpur: Sewage continues to flow into Gorewada Lake, a potential backup source of drinking water for the city, even as Nagpur stares at acute water scarcity. More concerning is Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) inaction despite repeated warnings and a high court directive.A TOI spot check on Sunday found wastewater entering the lake, raising questions about the civic body’s preparedness for the looming water crisis.According to Water Resources Department, the combined live storage of five key reservoirs — Totladoh, Kamthi Khairy, Khindsi, Nand and Wadgaon — stood at 699.42 million cubic metres (MCM).Totladoh, a major source of the city’s drinking water, held just 433.11 MCM on Oct 18 against its designed capacity of 1,016.93 MCM, or 42.59%, compared with 98.76% on the same date last year. With all six districts in Nagpur division declared drought-affected, protecting every water source is critical ahead of summer 2027.Congress corporator Shailesh Pandey, who accompanied the TOI team during the spot check, expressed anguish over the continued sewage inflow. He said NMC should have stopped the discharge long ago.“Gorewada Lake could prove a lifeline for Nagpurians during the harsh summer of 2027. NMC has maintained that it is an emergency backup source and that water drawn from it is treated before being supplied. But that does not absolve the civic body of its responsibility to stop sewage from entering the lake,” he said.WARNINGS PILED UP, SEWAGE STILL FLOWSOn June 23, the Nagpur bench of Bombay HC directed NMC to decide within six weeks on a representation seeking urgent measures to protect and restore the lake. Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode also directed the civic body to communicate its decision to the petitioner within two weeks. The PIL was disposed of without adjudicating the pollution allegations. Sunday’s findings raise questions about the action taken by NMC since then.On April 19, TOI traced a foul-smelling stream carrying plastic and domestic waste from behind Gorewada International Zoo, through a culvert across Katol Road, into the lake. Three days later, TOI reported that NMC had extracted more than 9,300 million litres from Gorewada in 2025 despite laboratory tests flagging bacteriological contamination.A Nov 2025 report by NMC’s Central Water Testing Laboratory recorded total coliform levels of 350 MPN per 100 ml and E. coli at 22 MPN per 100 ml. A joint inspection with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials also flagged shortcomings at the Dabha sewage treatment plant, designed to treat 5 million litres per day (MLD) but reportedly processing only around 2 MLD at the time. NMC had ordered a drone survey and fresh sampling.SEWAGE CONTINUES TO FLOWWastewater was seen flowing towards Gorewada Lake, raising renewed concerns over contamination of the waterbody.PLASTIC, GARBAGE IN THE STREAMPlastic waste and other garbage continued to litter the sewage channel, with waste-laden water flowing towards the lake.POLLUTION THREAT PERSISTSSunday’s spot check found the same troubling conditions despite repeated TOI reports, official inspections and a Bombay High Court directive to NMC to decide the lake pollution plea.THE BIG QUESTIONWith drought looming and Totladoh’s live storage below 50%, how long can sewage discharge into a potential backup water source be allowed to continue?FIVE QUESTIONS NMC MUST ANSWERWhat decision was taken on the representation following the June 23 high court order?Has the source of sewage entering Gorewada Lake been conclusively identified?What corrective action followed the drone survey and MPCB sampling?What do the latest laboratory reports say about the lake’s water quality?What safeguards ensure that water drawn from the lake is adequately treated before supply?TIMELINE: TOI’S COVERAGE OF GOREWADA LAKE POLLUTIONApril 14, 2026: Sewage Flowing Into Gorewada, Is City Drinking Contaminated Water?April 16, 2026: No Sewage Contamination: NMC Defends Gorewada Water QualityApril 18, 2026: Gorewada Water Row Deepens as Congress Flags Contradictions and FDCM Letters Point to Sewage ThreatApril 19, 2026: Plastic, Sewage, and Neglect: Gorewada Lake Faces a Hidden ThreatApril 22, 2026: NMC Drew Over 9,300 Million Litres from Gorewada in 2025 Despite Contamination Red FlagsApril 22, 2026: Drone Survey Ordered After Joint Inspection with MPCB at Gorewada LakeJune 12, 2026: NMC Wakes Up to Gorewada Mess, Pili PollutionJune 24, 2026: HC Asks NMC to Decide Gorewada Lake Pollution Plea in Six Weeks
