The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has raised serious concern over increasing air and noise pollution in Nagpur, Chandrapur, and other cities of Vidarbha.
The court registered two public interest litigations (PILs), stating that pollution levels are becoming dangerous and urgent measures are needed to protect public health.
A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas asked the amicus curiae to file a detailed petition within four weeks. The judges noted that both air and noise pollution in Nagpur and nearby cities have been rising sharply and could create a major crisis if not controlled soon.
The court referred to recent data showing that Nagpur’s air quality has reached alarming levels, especially with the onset of winter. Lower temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground, worsening conditions.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at 5 am on November 21, the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 250 in several parts of Nagpur—classified as “very poor” and harmful to health. This was worse than the AQI recorded in Mumbai and Pune on the same day.
The court also pointed out that industrial activity in Chandrapur has added to pollution, causing breathing problems, dust, rising noise from vehicles, and declining living conditions.
To assist the court, Advocate Shantanu Khedkar has been appointed as amicus curiae. He has been asked to study the issue and submit a comprehensive petition with recommendations to control pollution.
The High Court said it expects all authorities to act quickly and take strong steps to protect both the environment and public health.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com