HC fines CGWA ₹5,000 for non-compliance in groundwater PIL

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday imposed a cost of ₹5,000 on the regional director of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for failing to comply with its earlier directives in connection with a PIL pertaining to groundwater conservation in the city.

The penalty was imposed during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by retired armed forces officer Sandesh Singalkar, who raised concerns about the alarming depletion of groundwater levels in Nagpur and the inadequate conservation efforts by the authorities.

During the proceedings, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) informed the court that it is still awaiting a time-bound action plan from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to address deficiencies observed in solid waste management.

MPCB's counsel, Ravi Sanyal, submitted that these directions were issued following a personal hearing held on August 20, 2024, and were subsequently communicated to the NMC on March 28, 2025. However, the civic body has not responded to date.

Reports published by TOI on July 14 and August 4, 2024, had highlighted the gross neglect of Nagpur's centuries-old wells. Citing a survey conducted by NEERI, the reports revealed that 13 wells had completely dried up, while 443 others, though still containing water, were being used as garbage dumping sites. In response, the NMC allocated ₹1.52 crore for the cleaning and rejuvenation of 446 public wells across the city.

The MPCB also stated that it had recently conducted fresh water sampling from wells across multiple city locations, and the samples are currently undergoing analysis in its laboratory. Upon receiving the test results, appropriate instructions will be issued to the NMC. The board further informed the court that a detailed mapping of the city's wells had been carried out and placed on record, and it reserved the right to file a comprehensive affidavit at a later stage.

The PIL, filed through advocate Smita Sarode Singalkar, underscored the broader environmental and societal consequences of groundwater depletion. It emphasized that declining groundwater levels pose a serious threat to public health, exacerbate climate change, and intensify water scarcity. The petition referenced NEERI's study, "Mapping the Wells of Nagpur City," which documented widespread well desiccation and the misuse of these structures for the dumping of unsegregated solid waste.