Bombay High Court: Give number of drought refugees in city

The Bombay high court on Wednesday sought the exact number of drought refugees, who have come to Mumbai to escape the severe water shortage in rural Maharashtra.

A division bench of Justice V.M. Kandade and Justice M.S. Sonak took suo moto cognisance in April this year after media reports about lack of basic facilities for these undocumented refugees who have made their way from Nanded and set up camps throughout the city. The reports suggested that these refugees had no access to clean food, water or any sanitation facilities.

The government pleader, Abhinandan Vagyani, on Wednesday informed the court that shelters and other facilities had been provided to a few of them but unsatisfied with the reply, the court then asked for the exact number of refugees who have migrated to the city as well as the exact facilities provided.

According to media reports, a lot of drought refugees have fled their respective cities and towns located in Marathawada, which is the worst hit, and shifted to Mumbai in search of jobs. Working for daily wages, these refugees live anywhere from the streets to shanties and are trying to survive day-to-day in the city which has one of the heaviest labour class in the state

Before his resignation, minister for rehabilitation Eknath Khadse had said in the Assembly that there was no migration of drought hit people in the cities. Even his department was not having any figures on the migration when a few thousands were seen staying in Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad on the streets.