Solid waste and sewage being dumped into 50% city wells: PIL

Nagpur: Quoting a survey by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri), a retired Indian Air Force officer has moved the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court claiming that solid waste is being dumped into over 50% of the wells in city and a few are contaminated with sewage.
While issuing notices to the respondents, including Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner, a division bench comprising Justices Atul Chandurkar and Mahendra Chandwani on Wednesday directed them to file a reply within four weeks.

The Central Ground Water Authority’s regional director, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officer and Neeri director are the other respondents in the PIL.
According to petitioner Sandesh Singalkar, Neeri’s study titled ‘Mapping the wells of Nagpur city’ reveals that most of the wells in the city are dry and being used for dumping non-segregated solid waste. He said groundwater depletion is a serious threat to human life as it results in climate change and other complications like water scarcity.
Through counsel Smita Singalkar, the petitioner argued that the statutory authority like MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) is not taking any cognizance of non-segregated solid waste being dumped into wells.
“Already, there is water scarcity in the city. Keeping a large number of wells dry without making an attempt to rejuvenate them, particularly in summer, is unfortunate. It is necessary to direct the NMC to formulate a plan for revival of such wells and water management with the help of experts. It is also necessary to conduct a survey of the borewells so that the issue related to groundwater depletion shall get addressed in a complete manner,” he said.
The petitioner prayed for directives to the NMC to submit a time-bound plan to remove garbage from all wells as mentioned in the Neeri report. The civic body should also be asked to submit entire plan of action, in coordination with other respondents, and the details of budgetary provisions, the petition says.
Singalkar further sought directives to the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to submit the exact situation of groundwater level in the city and a monitoring report of the last two years. The MPCB should take stern action against government agencies, including NMC, for dumping or allowing to dump garbage into wells.
The PIL came up for hearing on March 25, but the petitioner was asked to submit a copy of the Neeri report.