Mumbai: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) has expressed serious displeasure with the department’s registry, at the manner in which case files have been maintained in a long-running environmental matter concerning the alleged illegal bunding and construction activity in the salt pan lands of Dharavi.
During a physical hearing the bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh (Judicial Member) and Dr. Vijay Kulkarni (Expert Member) noted that the registry had failed to properly segregate and maintain separate files for each of the pending applications, leading to confusion and mismanagement.
The matter, originally filed as a letter petition by environmental activist Madhura Rajesh Tawde, was first registered as Original Application at the Principal Bench in New Delhi. The petition raised concerns over illegal dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste and environmental violations in the sensitive salt pan region in Dharavi, Mumbai.
Although the case was disposed of on March 15, 2023, the Western Zone Bench re-registered it as Original application upon its transfer from Delhi — despite it already being closed. Several Miscellaneous Applications and Interlocutory Applications have since been filed in connection with the matter.
The tribunal pointed out that the registry had failed to paginate and organize files properly, which led to the mix-up of active and disposed cases. “Separate files should have been prepared for each application and tagged with the main file to avoid confusion,” the bench stated.
The court ordered the registry to reorganize and paginate all related files within a week and segregate Miscellaneous Application, filed by an intervener Balgovind Rampratap Barai, who is seeking a recall of the earlier order dated March 15, 2023.
However, the tribunal found the application procedurally defective, noting that only the State of Maharashtra was impleaded, and other original parties were not served notices. The applicant has been granted two weeks to correct this and implead all concerned parties.
Meanwhile in connection with an Interlocutory Application filed by the original respondent has sought to Validate compliance with the NGT’s earlier orders to remove C&D waste; Challenge the closure orders and service disconnections by the Environment Department dated August 12, 2024 and to Seek restoration of water and electricity and permission to resume salt manufacturing at the site.
While the tribunal allowed the impleadment of the applicant as respondent, it dismissed the remaining prayers, stating that a fresh original application would need to be filed with the appropriate court fees and documentation for any further relief.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), submitted an affidavit dated June 11, 2025, which was taken on record, which says that it is expected to play a crucial role in determining the environmental violations at the site.
All pending applications — excluding the dismissed applications will be taken up for further hearing on July 21, 2025.
