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He also expressed displeasure over the police administration’s failure to deploy personnel along the Godavari banks, despite directions issued by the Bombay High Court in 2018 to prevent river pollution. The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of a contempt petition filed by petitioner Rajesh Pandit in connection with the 2012 public interest litigation on Godavari pollution and the alleged non-compliance with court orders issued between 2012 and 2018. The high court recorded chromium levels of 50.3 mg/L in contaminated water entering Godavari through a local nullah near Kumbh Mela ghat.
Sources who attended the meeting said the chief secretary questioned the inaction by the MPCB and NMC despite reports of chromium contamination and also raised concerns over the police administration’s failure to enforce measures mandated by the court. The court also described photographs showing the effects of exposure to or consumption of the contaminated water as “equally disturbing”. Senior officials from various departments attended the meeting, while some joined virtually. the court observed, “Having perused the test report, we are aghast at the alarming level of water contamination While granting the state more time to file detailed instructions.