In a significant environmental ruling, the Bombay High Court has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Badlapur civic and environmental authorities for failing to prevent untreated sewage from contaminating farmland in Joveli village, Thane district. The order came in response to a petition filed by Saritha Selvan, a 56-year-old organic farmer, and argued by Counsel Sneha Prabhu, who has been spearheading the legal fight to protect the affected land.
Counsel Sneha Prabhu informed the court that repeated complaints to the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) since May 2024 had gone unanswered while sewage continued to damage crops and pollute the soil. The bench expressed strong displeasure at the negligence and held both the municipal body and the MPCB accountable for ignoring their statutory duties.
During the hearing, the court highlighted that major housing developments—including the Jagannath Galaxy project—had been built without securing mandatory MPCB consent, violating environmental clearance norms. MPCB officials admitted that septic tanks were overflowing and that the area lacked an underground drainage system connected to a functioning sewage treatment plant.
As a deterrent, the High Court not only ordered immediate remedial action but also levied a ₹10 lakh fine to be borne jointly by the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council and the MPCB. The amount will be used for clean-up operations and preventive infrastructure. The court further directed the Thane District Collector, MPCB officials, the municipal council’s Chief Officer, and the local Tehsildar to submit a joint compliance report by October 15, 2025.
Welcoming the decision, Counsel Sneha Prabhu said the penalty sends a clear message that “unchecked urbanisation and bureaucratic apathy will not be tolerated when farmers’ livelihoods and public health are at stake.”
This landmark order underscores the need for strict enforcement of environmental regulations as Badlapur and other Mumbai suburbs witness rapid, often unplanned, real estate development.