The Bombay High Court issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking the High Court’s intervention to save Erai and Zarpat rivers, flowing through the city of Chandrapur, from getting more polluted and ultimately getting lost in time to come.
The counsel for the petitioner invited the attention of the Bench to Erai and Zarpat Rivers Action Plan stated to be made by State of Maharashtra and submitted that various steps contemplated under the plan are not being taken and implemented by the State, as a result of which, both the rivers remain polluted.
It is further submitted that the dam across Erai river serves as a source of water for Chandrapur city and also for industries in and around Chandrapur city and therefore, it is necessary that Erai river be revived and cleaned.
It is also argued by the Counsel, that Erai river is a tributary of Wardha and if polluted water of Erai river meets water of Wardha river, even Wardha river which ultimately joins Godavari river would be polluted and thus, there would be cascading effect of pollution across India. It is, therefore, urged that some urgent steps need to be taken by the State of Maharashtra in order to save ecology.
While considering the PIL, the Nagpur Division Bench of Justice Sunil B. Shukrea and Justice G. A. Sanap directed to make Collector, Chandrapur and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandrapur as party respondents by amending the cause title with immediate effect and issuing notice to the respondents after the amendments are carried out.