HC seeks details on drought refugees in Mumbai, nearby dists

The Bombay High Court today sought factual details from Maharashtra government on exact number of persons who migrated to Mumbai and neighbouring districts from drought-hit areas of the state and what steps it has taken to help and rehabilitate such 'drought refugees'.
A division bench of justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak directed the government to submit the details on June 10.
The direction was given during hearing of a public interest litigation taken up by HC suo moto in April this year following media reports on the plight of drought refugees who had migrated from Nanded to Mumbai and had no access to food, drinking water and shelter.

Government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani today informed the court that shelter and other facilities have been provided to some drought refugees.
But the court sought to know the exact number of persons migrated and what steps the government has taken.
The state government had earlier said that it does not know the exact number of people who have migrated to Mumbai and adjoining areas from the drought-affected districts.