Maharashtra's delayed response irks Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court Monday expressed dissatisfaction over delay on the part of the state government in listing out measures to tackle the water crisis in Maharashtra.

The court noted that considering that numerous districts in the state were facing a drought-like situation, this kind of delay was not expected.

A division bench of Justice Sandeep Kashinath Shinde and Justice Sarang Vijaykumar Kotwal was hearing a petition filed by social activist Dr Sanjay Lakh Patil, seeking setting up of independent disaster management committees in each district of the state.

While hearing this petitioner last week, the court directed the government to file its reply Monday with details of measures it proposed to adopt to tackle drought in the state.

Dr Patil, in his petition, has sought implementation of the 2016 disaster management guidelines, listing several measures to be undertaken by the state government to tackle natural calamities, including drought.

When the petition came up for hearing Monday, the government counsel requested the court to grant further time to file a reply. To this, the bench said that the court was aware of the drought situation in several districts of the state.

“We are aware of the seriousness of the situation. The government should not delay filing an affidavit stating what steps it has taken,” the court said. The bench also noted that some districts in the state’s Marathwada region were getting water supply only once in eight days.

To this, the government pleader assured the court that the affidavit would be filed before May 24. Taking this on record, the bench posted the matter for further hearing on May 27 and directed the government to provide a copy of the affidavit to the petitioner on or before May 24.

The court also said that the government would continue to carry out relief work.