THE Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has questioned the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) regarding the measures taken to address the persistent problem of the narrow sewer line that got choked, in D h a n t o l i . Despite the NMC’s claims of laying sewer line pipes, the issue of sewer line getting choked continues to plague the area. Local residents of Dhantoli face severe problems during the rainy season due to the narrow sewer line. A public interest litigation (PIL) addressing the issue has been filed in the High Court, prompting the division benchof Justice Atul Chandurkar andJustice Vrushali Joshi to directthe NMC to submit an affidavitby July 12.

 

Adv Neerja Choubey, a resident of Purushottam SatheMarg, has filed the petition, highlighting the worsening situation in Dhantoli over the pastfew years. She attributed it tothe construction of skyscrapers along thesewer lines. The NMC’s failure to adapt thesewer lines tothe changingneeds has exacerbated thep e r s i s t e n tchoking of thesewer lines. Even in the absence of rainfall, dirty water emanates from thechamber, emits an unpleasant odor and posing health risksto the citizens. Despite previous notifications issued to theNMC, urging them to repair the sewer line, no measures have been taken thus far, it was mentioned in the petition.

 

During hearing, Dr Papia Bhattacharya, a member of the Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal, has filed a mediation application, which was rejected by the High Court. The court advised Dr Bhattacharya to file a separate petition. Not satisfied with the NMC’s submitted reply, the High Court demanded a fresh affidavit addressing the issue.