Claiming that it has taken necessary steps to tackle the water shortage in drought-hit areas in Maharashtra, the state government on Thursday said it would provide adequate drinking water to each and every citizen.
The state government filed an affidavit before the division bench headed by Justice V.M. Kanade, which is hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Loksatta movement. The court had already ordered shifting of IPL matches out of Maharashtra based on the PIL.
The government in its affidavit listed the measures taken by it to overcome the water shortage caused by insufficient rain during monsoon last year. The government told the HC that it has been providing drinking water to Latur by train and a number of tankers have been pressed into service in several parts of the state.
Acting advocate general Rohit Dev said a policy to tackle the drought was in place. To the court's query as to why a drought was not declared officially, Mr Dev said it was not necessary as statutory provisions were being implemented and short-term measures had been taken.
The high court also asked the government to consider putting restrictions on water supply for wedding functions, parties and get-togethers, among others,
Senior advocate Ashutosh Kumbhkoni, acting as Amicus Curiae to assist the HC, suggested that every tanker should be equipped with the global positioning system (GPS) device to ensure that it is not diverted.
Industrial water purifiers should be installed in the drought-hit areas, he suggested, adding that Janata Sahakari Bank, with the assistance of municipal corporation, had laid a pipeline with industrial water purifiers in Solapur.
