The Bombay high court on Tuesday suggested that the government of Maharashtra consider using goods train to transport water to drought-hit areas.
This is how milk and oil are supplied. The court also asked the state government to create awareness amongst the people in drought-hit areas to avoid organising functions, including conferences, parties and huge gatherings to ensure that water is not wasted.
The division bench of Justice Naresh H Patil and Justice Amjad A. Sayed also asked the state government to issue instructions on a war footing to municipal commissioners and CEOs of zila panchayats to ensure that sufficient water supply in drought-hit areas of the state. The court also asked the government to ensure that polluted water is not allowed to flow to the drought-hit areas.
The court also said that funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should be used for the benefit of farmers.
Taking into consideration that if any company has such funds but does not have any idea on how to use it for the benefit of farmers, the bench also said that the Maharashtra government should come out with a proposal on what kind of help the private companies could give to the state’s farmers under the CSR spend.
The court was hearing suo motu a public interest litigation on farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra.
The bench pointed out that in some areas such as Osmanabad district of Marathwada, one of the factors driving farmers to suicide was lack of water.
In the meantime, the government pleader, Abhinandan Vagyani, informed the high court that the Maharashtra government had asked the ministers concerned and guardian ministers of drought-hit areas to visit these places and collect first-hand information. He also said, “We are launching schemes for the benefit of farmers and ensuring that schemes are effectively implemented.”
According to Mr Vagyani, experts had been appointed under the Vasantrao Naik Swavlamban (self-reliance) Mission to provide assistance to people in drought-hit areas.
