Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi: In an application raising issues related to municipal supply of contaminated drinking water in multiple cities, the Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member) directed the States of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to duly consider the worsening condition of water supply, take appropriate remedial action, and submit an action taken report.
Background
The present original application raised the issue of contamination of municipal drinking water in cities across India. The applicant, who is a resident of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, pleaded that they are receiving discoloured, foul-smelling drinking water supplied through the municipal pipeline, resulting in various health issues such as acute gastrointestinal illness and other complications. The applicant pleaded that the residents of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhinagar in Gujarat, Pune in Maharashtra and Bengaluru in Karnataka were facing similar issues. The applicant alleged that sewage-mixed potable water was being supplied by Municipal Corporations, resulting in water-borne diseases, and relied upon various news reports in support of the plea.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) observed that the application raised a substantial issue relating to compliance with environmental norms.
Proceedings So Far
The NGT issued a notice to the respondents concerned to file their response/reply by way of affidavit. Pending further consideration of the matter, the NGT directed the respondent Municipal Corporations to ensure that clean drinking water is supplied to their residents.
Thereafter, in a subsequent hearing, the NGT allowed impleadment of the Municipal Corporations concerned as additional respondents.
Subsequently, in the last hearing, the applicant submitted that the condition in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat had worsened. In response, the NGT directed the authorities concerned in the said States to duly consider the issues raised in the original application, take appropriate remedial action, and submit an action taken report within 4 weeks. The matter was thereafter listed for 9 September 2026.
[Suyash Kumar Mishra v. Union of India, OA No. 21 of 2026, order dated 26-5-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the applicant: Amber Sachdeva, Advocate
For the respondents: Senior Advocate Ravindra Kumar with Shivam Saksena, Advocate for R – 7 (Through VC)
Darpan KM & Rajat Jonathan Shaw, Advocates for R – 31 (State of Karnataka)
Priyanka Swami, Dippt Anubhuti & Abhishek Khare, Advocates for R – 6, 9, 29, Lucknow Municipal Corporation & NNP Loni
Gigi. C. George & Neha Sharma, Advocates for R – 3 & 4
Pradeep Misra & Daleep Dhyani, Advocates for UPPCB (Through VC)
Shiv Mangal Sharma, AAG with Saurabh Rajpal & Arushi Rathore, Advocates for the State of Rajasthan
Anuj Bhandari, Adv. for CPCB (Through VC)
Apar Gupta, Adv. for Punjab PCB (Through VC)
