HC pulls up MWRRA on failure to address Solapur farmers' woes

The Bombay High Court today rapped the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) for failing to comply with its order directing the authority to hear and decide within two weeks the grievances of farmers in Solapur, which is facing a drought situation as the Ujjani dam has run dry.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha was hearing a petition filed by Solapur-based farmer association Mohol Taluka Bahu Uddeshiya Shetkari stating that the authorities concerned are not implementing provisions for equitable water distribution.
The court on the last hearing on April 24 directed the petitioner to file its representation before the MWRRA within three days after which the authority shall hear and take its decision within two weeks.

The bench was today informed by the advocate for MWRRA that it has received the representation of the petitioner and the authority will hear the issue on May 21.
The advocate added that it has to hear all the parties involved before taking its decision on water distribution.
"Why have you posted the hearing so late? By then the farmers will not need water as they would have migrated. We said decision has to be taken within two weeks but you have posted hearing after two weeks. Are you not realising the urgency of the matter?" chief justice Shah asked.

The bench further said that powers to decide on such issues are handed over to such experts and authorities so that they pass orders immediately. "Even without any representation from anyone the authority should have applied its mind and taken a decision," the chief justice said.

The matter has been posted for further hearing tomorrow.
According to the petition, the Ujjani dam, which provides water to Solapur district, has dried up.
On April 9, the High Court had directed government to release water from other dams to the low lying Ujjani dam, where water has gone below the required level thereby affecting agricultural activities, within 24 hours.