Maharashtra: State Human Rights Commission Takes Action Against Severe Pollution in Godavari River
Nanded, 23rd February 2025: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has intervened in the alarming pollution crisis of the Godavari River in Nanded following a formal complaint lodged by environmental activist Jaymala Dhankikar on February 6, 2025. The complaint highlights the severe contamination of the river due to the unchecked discharge of sewage, industrial effluents, and toxic waste at Nava Ghat, posing grave health risks to residents.
Dhankikar’s complaint underscores the critical deterioration of water quality, making it unsafe for consumption and daily use. Residents along the riverbanks are already facing health hazards, and if immediate steps are not taken, the situation could escalate into a major environmental and public health crisis.
To push for urgent intervention, Dhankikar has sent official letters to key authorities, including:
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Secretary, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Chief Minister’s Office
The complaint calls for swift action, including immediate inspections, strict action against polluters, pollution control measures, and relief for affected communities.
Studies have repeatedly flagged the Godavari River’s worsening pollution, particularly from industrial effluents originating from the MIDC area in Nanded. Water samples have shown dangerously high levels of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and heavy metals such as iron, indicating severe contamination that threatens both human and aquatic life.
The SHRC’s action is seen as a crucial move in tackling long-standing environmental negligence. The commission’s involvement is expected to pressure authorities into taking corrective measures to safeguard the river and its ecosystem. Environmental groups and local activists are hopeful that this will lead to concrete steps to curb pollution and restore the Godavari’s ecological balance.
