National Green Tribunal Addresses Godavari River Pollution, Directs Authorities to File Reports
National Green Tribunal Addresses Godavari River Pollution, Directs Authorities to File Reports
Pune, September 17, 2025 – The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone Bench in Pune, today took up Original Application No. 92 of 2025 (WZ) concerning significant pollution in the Godavari River at Nava Ghat . The Tribunal, comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh (Judicial Member), Dr. Vijay Kulkarni (Expert Member), and Dr. Prashant Gargava (Expert Member),is addressing the issue after taking suo motu cognizance of the release of toxic waste by the Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation.
During the hearing, the NGT issued several directives to the involved parties:
The Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation (Respondent No. 2), represented by . S.A. Mulla and Radhakrushna K. Ingole, was granted four weeks to file a reply-affidavit .
The Environment Department, State of Maharashtra (Respondent No. 1), through its counsel Aniruddha Kulkarni, requested and was allowed time to seek instructions regarding the filing of its reply-affidavit .
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) (Respondent No. 4), represented by Vilas Jadhav, informed the Tribunal that a Joint Committee (comprising CPCB, MPCB, and District Magistrate, 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 file the Joint Committee’s report and their own reply-affidavit .
The District Collector, Nanded (Respondent No. 5), who chairs the Joint Committee, did not appear. The Tribunal stated it would decide on the requirement for Respondent No. 5 to file a reply after receiving the Joint Committee’s report . The Superintending Engineer, Nanded Irrigation Circle (Respondent No. 3), was not present and deemed not a necessary party for the current proceedings.
The applicant, Jaymala Dhankikar, appeared in person and expressed her intent to submit additional information, documents, and photographs across the bar . These materials reportedly detail several photographs of the site and identify local bodies responsible for the pollution . The Tribunal directed her to e-file these additional documents along with an affidavit before the next hearing date and ensure copies are served to all other parties in advance .
The Registry and the applicant were also directed to serve a copy of the Original Application and all necessary documents to the counsel for Respondent No. 2 and all other parties forthwith to facilitate the filing of replies.
The matter has been adjourned for further consideration on November 17, 2025.
