Maharashtra: NGT Takes Up Godavari River Pollution Case Against Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation

Pune, 18th September 2025: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone Bench, Pune, today heard Original Application No. 92 of 2025 (WZ) concerning severe pollution in the Godavari River at Nava Ghat.

The Bench, comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh (Judicial Member), Dr. Vijay Kulkarni (Expert Member), and Dr. Prashant Gargava (Expert Member), took suo motu cognizance of reports alleging toxic waste discharge by the Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation.

During the proceedings, the Tribunal issued several directions:
The Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation (Respondent No. 2), represented by S.A. Mulla and Radhakrushna K. Ingole, was granted four weeks to file its reply-affidavit.

The Environment Department, Government of Maharashtra (Respondent No. 1), represented by counsel Aniruddha Kulkarni, sought and was allowed additional time to obtain instructions regarding its reply.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) (Respondent No. 4), represented by Vilas Jadhav, informed the Bench that a Joint Committee — comprising CPCB, MPCB, and the District Magistrate of Nanded, with MPCB as the nodal agency — had inspected the site on August 25, 2025. The MPCB was granted ten weeks, as a last opportunity, to submit the Joint Committee’s report along with its reply-affidavit.

The District Collector, Nanded (Respondent No. 5), who chairs the Joint Committee, was absent. The Tribunal stated it would decide later whether a reply from Respondent No. 5 was necessary, after receiving the Committee’s report.

The Superintending Engineer, Nanded Irrigation Circle (Respondent No. 3), was also absent and was deemed not a necessary party at this stage.

The applicant, Jaymala Dhankikar, appeared in person and expressed her intention to submit additional material, including photographs and documents identifying local bodies allegedly responsible for the pollution. The Tribunal directed her to e-file the documents with an affidavit before the next hearing and serve copies to all parties in advance.

The Registry and the applicant were further instructed to ensure that a complete set of the Original Application and related documents is served to the counsel for Respondent No. 2 and other parties to facilitate timely replies.

The matter has been adjourned to November 17, 2025, for further consideration.