The vacation bench of justices B R Gavai and Dr Shalini Phansalkar Joshi directed the government to ensure that drinking water was not supplied to construction sites.
Observing that natural resources are property of the entire nation and not just an individual or a private entity, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to consider supplying water from privately operated dams and wells to water-scarce areas.
The court also asked the government to set up separate wards in district hospitals to treat patients suffering from heat wave, and told the district collectors in drought-affected areas to to consider providing water to hospitals where surgeries have been delayed or postponed.
The vacation bench of justices B R Gavai and Dr Shalini Phansalkar Joshi directed the government to ensure that drinking water was not supplied to construction sites.
Meanwhile professor H M Desarda, who has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the issue of severe drought in the state, informed the court that Tata Power dams near Lonavla have water but the state was not considering diverting it to areas where there was scarcity.
In response, the bench said the government should consider using such water for drinking purpose. It added that the water from private wells and other sources must be considered for supplying to drought-affected areas.
Acting advocate general (AG) Rohit Deo informed the court that steps were being taken to ensure that water was provided to dry areas. To which the bench said, the government should constitute a Maharashtra water resources management authority within a week, or extend the period of the present committee, to look into issues related to water supply in all districts.
Further, the court also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief to rationalise water supply to slaughterhouses. The PIL has been posted for further hearing on June 14.
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