Nashik Divisional Commissioner Files Detailed Affidavit on Godavari River Pollution Control Efforts
Divisional Commissioner Praveen Gedam submitted a comprehensive affidavit on Wednesday outlining the extensive measures implemented by various authorities to combat pollution in the Godavari river. This submission comes in direct response to specific directions issued by the Bombay High Court during ongoing hearings concerning alleged non-compliance with previous judicial orders related to river conservation.
Background of the Contempt Petition and Court Directives
The legal proceedings originate from a contempt petition filed on May 5 last year by environmental activist Rajesh Pandit. The petition sought decisive action against six out of eight respondent authorities for their failure to implement the High Court's landmark judgment dated December 18, 2018, in Public Interest Litigation number 176 of 2012. That judicial mandate had ordered multiple critical measures to significantly reduce pollution levels in the Godavari river, including comprehensive upgrades to sewage infrastructure, achieving complete sewage collection efficiency, and removing all encroachments along the designated blue flood line.
During the previous court hearing on January 7, the judicial bench had specifically instructed Divisional Commissioner Gedam to prepare and submit a detailed status report on compliance progress. The submitted affidavit now provides a thorough summary of actions undertaken by concerned departments, all aligned with the technical recommendations provided by the prestigious National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
Coordinated Committee Structure and Regular Monitoring
The affidavit prominently highlights the establishment of a high-powered committee chaired by the divisional commissioner himself, complemented by multiple specialized sub-committees representing different governmental agencies. This structured framework has been conducting regular meetings to strategically plan and systematically monitor all river improvement initiatives. Records indicate that the main committee has convened an impressive fourteen times over the past eight years, while the various sub-committees have been meeting even more frequently to address operational challenges and implementation hurdles.
Multi-Agency Implementation of NEERI Recommendations
According to the detailed affidavit, multiple agencies including the Nashik Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Water Resources Department, Forest Department, and other relevant bodies have initiated numerous measures based directly on NEERI's expert recommendations. These comprehensive actions include:
- Substantial upgrades to existing sewage treatment systems and infrastructure
- Strengthening of municipal waste-management processes and protocols
- Stringent measures to curb illegal industrial and domestic discharges
- Systematic approaches to tackle various other identified pollution sources
Official minutes from various committee meetings demonstrate coordinated efforts by all respondent departments to implement NEERI's comprehensive roadmap for river restoration and ecological rehabilitation.
Integration with Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 Preparations
The affidavit further reveals that preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027 have been strategically integrated into the broader river-cleaning master plan. As part of the comprehensive Kumbh infrastructure strategy, several major projects have already been initiated, including:
- Significant upgrades to multiple sewage treatment plants across Nashik city
- Expansion of the underground sewer network to cover more areas
- Construction of a completely new sewage treatment plant and sewer system in Trimbakeshwar
These infrastructure projects, the affidavit emphasizes, are not merely temporary arrangements but represent vital investments for long-term river conservation and sustainable water management.
Municipal Corporation's Enhanced Waste Management Initiatives
The Nashik Municipal Corporation, according to the affidavit, has substantially enhanced its house-to-house solid waste collection systems while simultaneously strengthening scientific waste processing and disposal mechanisms. The corporation, in close coordination with local police authorities, has been maintaining strict vigilance to prevent illegal dumping of waste into the river and to regulate prohibited activities such as washing vehicles or clothes along the ecologically sensitive riverbanks.
Petitioner's Perspective and Pending Requirements
Petitioner Rajesh Pandit reiterated that authorities still need to address several pending requirements, including upgrading aging sewage treatment plants, ensuring complete sewage collection efficiency, taking decisive action against encroachments along the blue line, and expediting construction of a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in the Ambad MIDC industrial area. Pandit noted that significant progress on these fronts gained noticeable momentum only after the contempt petition was formally filed, highlighting the critical role of judicial oversight in environmental governance.
The Bombay High Court will thoroughly examine the submitted affidavit and assess the compliance status during the next scheduled hearing on February 12, marking another crucial milestone in this ongoing environmental litigation.
