Of 300 villages, asks govt to provide potable water

HC comes to the rescue

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Irrigation Department to take steps for providing water to the nearly 300 villages in Panvel and Raigad districts. The direction comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) claiming these villages are facing acute water shortage.

The vacation bench comprising of Justice Anil Menon and Justice Bharati Dangre also directed the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) to spell out if it could come to the rescue of these villages, which are reeling under drought like situations.

The judges were hearing a PIL filed by Vishnu Gavali through his advocate Datta Mane. The PIL highlights the sorry state of affairs in these villages due to water scarcity. The PIL seeks directions to the concerned authorities to make immediate provisions for water supply to these villages. Through this PIL, Mane has argued that the right to life of these villagers is being violated, as they are not getting water even for drinking. He accordingly sought directions to the government for immediately provide potable drinking water for the villagers.

The PIL further highlights the plight of people affected by the international airport project as they are forced to consume/drink borewell water. The PIL has accordingly sought a permanent solution for these people too.

Having heard the submissions, the judges directed the irrigation department to make arrangements for providing water to all the affected villages by fetching water from a nearby dam. The judges also asked the PMC to spell out if it can, in any manner, make arrangement of water supply as nearly 100 of the affectee villages fall under the jurisdiction of PMC and the Panvel Panchayat Samiti.

Meanwhile, the neighboring Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has offered to send at least 50 water tankers to these villages. The matter would be next heard on Friday.