HC pulls up govt for 'delay' in appointments to WRMA

Says because of the delay the state is reeling under drought situation

Rapping the Maharashtra government for its inaction on appointing members to the state Water Resources Management Authority, the Bombay High Court on Monday said it was because of this delay the state was reeling under a drought situation.

WRMA decides on the distribution of water to dams across the state.

"The chairman of the authority got retired in 2011 and the member in 2012. Since then the posts have been lying vacant. This inaction on part of the government is the reason behind this complication (drought)," a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha said.

The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by Solapur-based farmer association Mohol Taluka Bahu Uddeshiya Shetkari stating that the authorities concerned are not implementing provisions for equitable water distribution. According to the petition, due to this, the Ujani dam, which provides water to Solapur district, has gone dry.

The bench had on the last hearing directed the government to release water from other dams to the low-lying Ujani dam.

Advocate S S Shinde appearing for the government informed the court that water from two other dams - Bhama Akshed and Andra - have been released in Ujani dam. "However, the water would take around 40 days to reach Ujani dam. Due to theft and evaporation, the amount of water that will finally reach Ujani will not be very significant," Shinde said.

While one dam (Bhama Akshed) is situated 280 kms away from Ujani, the second dam (Andra) is 330 kms away.

Asked by the court as to why water cannot be released from the closer Khadakwasla dam, Shinde said it would not be possible as the basins and valleys are different.

Shinde also told the court that while a chairman has been appointed to the WRMA, a member would be appointed within two weeks.