NGT Cracks Down on Nanded Civic Body Over Godavari River Pollution
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Nanded, 3rd August 2026: In a significant boost to environmental conservation efforts, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to assess and recover Environmental Damage Compensation (EDC) from the Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation (NWCMC) for allegedly polluting the Godavari River by discharging untreated sewage and failing to adequately manage solid waste.
The order was passed by the Western Zone Bench of the NGT, comprising Judicial Member Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, while disposing of Original Application No. 92 of 2025 filed by Pune-based environmental activist Jaymala Dhankikar, who appeared before the tribunal in person. The application alleged that untreated sewage and deficient solid waste management by the municipal corporation were causing severe pollution of the Godavari River.
After examining the findings of the Joint Committee and the objections raised by the municipal corporation, the tribunal accepted the committee’s report. It observed that the civic body’s reliance on ongoing projects under AMRUT 2.0 and Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 did not provide a clear implementation timeline and failed to address the continuing environmental violations.
The tribunal noted that Nanded generates around 70 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, while its existing treatment facilities have a capacity of only 67 MLD, resulting in approximately 3 MLD of untreated sewage being discharged into the Godavari River every day.
The NGT also highlighted serious shortcomings in the city’s solid waste management system. It observed that Nanded generates around 362 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, whereas the available treatment facility can process only 150 metric tonnes per day. As a result, nearly three lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste have accumulated and require biomining.
The tribunal directed the MPCB to determine the Environmental Damage Compensation within four weeks, after giving the municipal corporation an opportunity to be heard, and recover the amount within one month thereafter. It further warned that if the civic body continues to violate environmental norms, additional environmental compensation would be assessed and imposed proportionately. The tribunal also directed the MPCB to continue the prosecution proceedings already initiated against the municipal corporation.
Welcoming the verdict, environmental activist Jaymala Dhankikar said, “This order is a significant step towards ensuring accountability for environmental violations and protecting the Godavari River. A pollution-free Godavari is the collective responsibility of every citizen. This judgment strengthens the cause of river conservation, and our efforts to safeguard the river will continue with even greater determination.”
With these directions, the tribunal disposed of the application, making it clear that continued non-compliance with environmental norms would invite further financial penalties and legal action.
