The Bombay High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed highlighting the issue pertains to the shortage of water to the various areas within the limits of Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
The High court under Order dated 11.10.2017 unde two Public Interest Litigations of 2016 had passed a detailed order regarding the same grievances. The court had directed constitution of a committee in Pune and Thane districts so that the aggrieved party can approach the committee placing their grievance before the committee which can redress the grievance after taking note of the factual situation and hearing all the parties concerned. The court also observed that it would be advisable to have such a committee sitting at least once in two months. The court was of the opinion that in the respective districts of Pune and Thane, if the committee is formed consisting of Divisional Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner, Chief City Engineer of the respective authorities who is in charge of water supply in the local authority along with Member, Secretary of District Legal Services Authority in respective districts, the same would hear once in two months to address the grievance brought on record by the aggrieved parties, so far as deficit water supply or non-supply of water, coming within the jurisdiction of the above two local authorities.
It is submitted by the Counsel for the Respondent that such a Committee was constituted. However, it is submitted that the said Committee is not holding any meetings at present. According to the Counsel for the Petitioner, only four times, the meetings were held.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep V. Marne observed that respondents may proceed ahead with the reconstitution of the said Committee as directed under Order dated 11.10.2017 in Public Interest Litigations of 2016. The directions given in the said Public Interest Litigation which are applicable to the Pune Municipal Corporation shall also be read as applicable to Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
The directions given under judgment dated 11.10.2017 as referred to above shall be complied with by both the Corporations and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority shall also take steps for redressal of grievances of the cities with regard to the distribution of water as and when the same is brought to its notice , the Court directed.