HC worries over Godavari pollution

Mumbai/Nashik: “Precaution is always better than cure. How long before the authorities take action on the Godavari River pollution,” asked an irate environmentalist Rajesh Pandit, President of the Namami Goda Foundation and petitioner in the pending Godavari pollution case before the Bombay High Court.

Pandit apprehends that with lakhs of devotees expected to converge here for the forthcoming Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela and take a holy dip in the Godavari River, the pollution crisis could possibly turn into a major public health concern unless promised corrective measures are implemented urgently.

He said particularly alarming was the status of Nandini, a major tributary of the Godavari, where untreated sewage and industrial effluents allegedly continue to flow unchecked. Additionally, beyond the surface-water contamination Pandit said that the degree of groundwater pollution still remains unknown.

“We do not even know how extensively the groundwater has been contaminated. There must be a full-fledged audit before the situation becomes irreversible. It should cover actual generation, treatment and discharge levels,” Pandit told ‘The Perfect Voice’ in a grave voice.

The Bombay High Court also took note of the urgency at its October 27 hearing, expressing serious concern over chromium contamination and the indiscriminate discharge of hazardous industrial effluents and sewage. Pandit said the high court is both “worried and angry” on the pollution of Godavari River.

During the hearing Justice A. S. Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata pointedly asked the authorities: “Will you take action after people die?”

Since then, the state government has held several meetings and issued stern directions to the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and other agencies. The court has asked the government to file an affidavit on what action is being taken for the next hearing on Nov. 21.

STP’s Planned
Though Pandit lauded NMC Commissioner Manisha Khatri’s announcement to set up nine modern sewage treatment plants (STPs), with substantial treatment capacity that could suffice for the next two-three decades, he rued the delay of nearly 15 years – since the last Kumbh Mela – in implementing the projects, with focus shifted to other things.

Cracking the whip, state Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal convened high-level review meetings last week and ordered the MPCB to initiate stringent action against industries spewing untreated or inadequately treated effluents into the Godavari River and/or its tributaries, and those flouting Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) conditions.

The MPCB will conduct comprehensive water-quality monitoring, collecting samples from multiple locations along the river and its tributaries, nullahs and other suspected industrial discharge points, seek to ascertain the nature and extent of contamination and identify its sources. It will prepare a list of the most polluting industries and those found violating norms could face strong action, including penalties and shutdown orders.

Zero Tolerance
Aggarwal has ordered accountability and tough disciplinary action against officials ignoring ZLD violations, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will examine how polluting industries were set up and allowed to function in the vicinity of the water bodies sans  proper checks in the first place.

Khatri clarified that chromium contamination was detected only in the Nandini tributary and not the main Godavari channel, but NMC will make a scientific analysis of the extent of pollutants, illegal constructions within the river’s blue and red flood lines, etc.