The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court issued a directive, on Wednesday, instructing the High-level Committee to eliminate all encroachments along the Naag river. The hearing, presided over by Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri, focused on the critical issue of safeguarding the water resources, particularly Ambazari Lake, which drains out 400 cubic meters of water. In comparison, the Naag river has a carrying capacity of just 60 cubic meters. In response to the stark imbalance in water drainage, the High Court mandated the committee to not only remove encroachments along the Naag river but also undertake measures to deepen the river bed. The High Court will next hear the case on February 7. The State Urban Development Department has taken proactive steps by forming a High-level Committee, chaired by a senior official.

 

The committee is tasked with ensuring the safety of Ambazari dam, streamlining the Naag river, and address the encroachments along the river banks. The formation of this committee was a fall out of a stern reprimand from the High Court which led to the Government’s decision, as announced by Deputy Secretary of Urban Development Department, Vidya Hampyya. The public interest litigation (PIL) that initiated these legal actions was filed by residents of the Ambazari area -- Ramgopal Bachuka, Jayashree Bansod, and Natthuji Tikkas and others. During the hearing on December 6, the High Court, dissatisfied with the Government’s non-compliance, summoned the Chief Secretary of the State, Manoj Sounik, to personally attend the proceedings.

 

Subsequently, the administration took notice which resulted in the establishment of the High-level Committee. The committee, chaired by the Divisional Commissioner of Nagpur, comprises key members such as the Nagpur District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, Chairman of NIT, Managing Director of Maha Metro, Regional Officer of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Chief Engineer of Water Resources Department, Director of Disaster Management Cell, Chairman of Heritage Conservation Committee, and Managing Director of Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute. The High Court, in its order, explicitly directed the committee to ensure deepening of the Naag river and clear all encroachments. The administration has been given a deadline until February 7 to comply with the removal of encroachments along the river. Advocate General Dr Virendra Saraf, representing the Chief Secretary on-line from Mumbai while Deepak Thakre appeared for the State.