Bombay HC raps state for not setting up separate disaster management cells
At last hearing, the court had directed the state to set up separate disaster management cells in Mumbai and the Mumbai suburbs.
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday pulled up the state government for not following its order to set up a disaster management cell each, for Mumbai and the Mumbai suburbs.
A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla was hearing a petition filed by activist Sanjay Lakhe Patil of the NGO, Marathwada Anushesh Nirmulan Aani Vikas Manch, raising the issue of water scarcity faced by farmers in several parts of Maharashtra every year. The petition sought direction to the government to implement the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, and sought to know the measures taken by the government towards mitigation of drought. The petition demanded establishment of disaster management cells in each district as per the National Disaster Management Act.
When the matter came up for hearing on Friday morning, the bench issued a contempt of court notice to Medha Gadgil, additional chief secretary, Maharashtra, over it. However, during the afternoon session, government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani submitted a letter from Ms Gadgil, assuring the court that separate authorities would be set up within 15 days. Justice Oka then said, “We are accepting Ms Gadgil's letter and recalling our order issuing the contempt notice.” The bench added that if the authorities were not constituted by May 4, it would consider an “aggravated” contempt. The bench posted the matter for next hearing on May 4.
At last hearing, the court had directed the state to set up separate disaster management cells in Mumbai and the Mumbai suburbs. It had pointed to the National Disaster Management Act and asked that a new cell be set up by January 31.