‘Futala Lake is POLLUTED MPCB team finds plastic, waste dumped, says,Futala Lake water unfit for bathing’

 

 

THE Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has reported serious pollution atFutala Lake during aninspection carried out onJuly 14, 2025. The inspection by MPCB officials revealed plastic litter scattered around the premises and solid waste dumped near the entrance wall. The officials also found that the lake water was not suitable for outdoor bathing. In its reply to the Western Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT),Pune, theMPCB stated thatithadwrittento theNagpurMunicipal Corporation (NMC) about these issues on June 30, 2025. However, no response has been received from the NMC, so far, it added. The NGT is hearing the case suo motu, based on a news report which highlighted the deteriorating condition of the lake.

 

The matter came before Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh (JudicialMember)andDrVijay Kulkarni (Expert Member) on August 6, 2025. Therespondentsinclude the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), NMC, and MPCB. NMC’s lawyer, Adv Girish A Kunte, told the Tribunal, he had only recently been instructed torepresent the corporation and sought more time to respond. The bench granted NMC four weeks to file its reply, including a rejoinder to MPCB’s affidavit. The CPCB, represented by Aniruddha Kulkarni, filed its reply on August 5, 2025 which mainly describes the legal provisions. The NGT directed CPCB to shareits reply with NMC within two days and allowed NMC an additional two weeks to respond if necessary