‘The Bombay high court on Monday directed Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to pay `15 lakh of the `80 lakh sought by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) for research and to develop a solution to keep the river Godavari pollution-free.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M.S. Sanklecha was hearing a public interest litigation filed by a Nashik-based NGO Godavari Gatarikaran Virodhi Samiti’. The public interest litigation (PIL) had stated that the river has been highly polluted as the drainage of the region is directly connected to the river.
In a previous hearing, the petitioner had suggested that Neeri should be appointed to find a solution in the Godavari issue. The court had then summoned the national environment body. The lawyer for Neeri informed the court on Monday that it would incur an expenditure of `80 lakh for research work. The bench then directed the Nashik civic body to pay `15 lakh and directed the Centre and the state government to contribute the rest of the expense.
The petitioners had approached court stating that during the Sinhasta Kumbh Mela, which is to be held in Nashik, many pilgrims would be consuming the river water. “The mela which is a gathering of several devotees is a religious event. Many devotees not only bathe in the water, they also drink it as holy water,” said the petition.
In a previous hearing, advocate Pravatak Pathak had informed the court that several people were consuming the water and would face health issues if they continued to do so. He informed the court that the litigants had conducted a survey along with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
The bench had then directed the NMC to set up signs to create awareness about the disadvantages of consuming the river water.
In a previous hearing, the bench, on seeing the images of the current state of the river, had expressed its shock and had directed the state to file a detailed reply.