The Tripura High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) registered suo motu on the basis of newspaper reports regarding the shortage of drinking water under Noonacherra ADC Village in Mungiakami in Khowai District.
Notices were issued by the High Court to the State to file an affidavit indicating the period within which safe drinking water would be available to them and till such a project is complete, what are the temporary measures they would immediately undertake to provide emergency water to the villagers.
Pursuant to the said notice, an affidavit came to be filed on 18.08.2022 on behalf of the State indicating as follows:
i. Nabajoy Para, Ganga Bahadur Para, Hampaila Para and DattaMalsom Para : A local cherra (stream) has been identified at Nabjoy Para. An Innovative water supply scheme will be constructed at Nabjoy Para based on said water source and piped water will be provided to total 98 households of Nabajoy Para (30 nos.), GangaBahadur Para(18 nos.), Hampaila Para (22 nos.) and Datta MalsomPara (28 nos). Work order vide No.F.718EE-KLP/PWD(DWS)/469-81 dated 26-04-2022 for construction of the said Innovative scheme has been issued by the Executive Engineer, DWS Division, Kalyanpur and work has been started in the month of May, 2022 Site development work is completed. Construction of different parameters of said scheme may be started by 29-07-2022. Target for completion of the scheme is November, 2022.
ii. Gadai Mungkurui Para: A water supply scheme will be constructed at Gadai Mungkurui Para ( 28 households) based on a streamlet passing nearby the habitation. Work order No.F.7 (18)/ EE/ KLP/PWD(DWS)/1395-405 dated 03-06-2022 has been issued by theExecutive Engineer, DWS Division, Kalyanpur. Accordingly, the site handed over to the agency, work will be started by 30.07.2022.Target for completion of the work is September, 2022.
iii. Kalicharan Para : A water supply scheme will be constructed at Kalicharan Para (50 households) based on a stream that passes nearby the habitation. Work order No.F.7 (18)/EE-KLP/PWD (DWS)/1395-405 dated 03-06-2022 has been issued by the Executive Engineer,DWS Division, Kalyanpur Site handed over to the agency, work will be started by 30.07.2022. Target for completion of the work is September, 2022.
iv. Karnaram Para : A water supply scheme will be constructed for Karnaram Para (45 households) based on a streamlet passnearby the habitation. Work order No.F.7(18)/EEKLP/PWD(DWS)/699-711 dated 10-05-2022 has been issued by theExecutive Engineer, DWS Division, Kalyanpur. Site handed over tothe agency, work will be started by 30-07-2022. Target for completion of the work is September, 2022.
v. Ujan Durgaram Para and Rangsurai Para : A water supply scheme will be constructed for Ujan Durgaram Para ( 10 households) and Rangsurai Para ( 8 households) based on spring source located at said habitations. Work order No.F.7 (18)/EE-KLP/PWD (DWS)/1395-405 dated 03-06-2022 has been issued by the Executive Engineer, DWS Division, Kalyanpur. Site handed over to the agency,work will be started by 30.07.2022.
vi. Prajabahadur Malsom Para : A water supply scheme will be constructed at Prajabahadur Malsom Para (90 households) based on local cherra (Nona cherra). To cover the said habitation, one innovative scheme is taken up vide work order No.F.7(18)/EEKLP/PWD(DWS)/686-98 dated 10-05-2022 as issued by the Executive Engineer, DWS Division, Kalyanpur and construction of the scheme has been started in May, 2022. Site development work is completed. Construction of different parameters of said scheme will be started by 30-07-2022. Target for completion of the work is November, 2022.
It is stated by the Government Advocate on behalf of the State that among the aforesaid project to supply safe drinking water, project at (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) have been completed and safe drinking water would be provided to the villagers and insofar as project at serial no.(i) is concerned, the target date for completion of the scheme is November 2022.
In view of such an affidavit and statement of the Government Advocate, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice S.G. Chattopadhyay records its appreciation of the steps taken by the State pursuant to the directions of the Court and also directs the State to file a necessary affidavit in the month of December, 2022 relatable to project no.(i) as noted herein above. Once such an affidavit is filed, the matter shall be placed before the Court for its consideration, the Court further directed.