The Bombay High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking direction to the Respondents to clarify whose responsibility it is to develop necessary infrastructure for supplying drinking & domestic use water.
The PIL filed by one Amol Ratan Balwadkar further seeks clarification that whose responsibility is it to supply drinking and domestic use water to the residents of Sus and Mahlunge villages.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep V. Marne noted that the similar issue was raised in another PIL of 2022 pertaining to the shortage of water to various areas within the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
The Bench disposed of the said PIL under order dated 10th April 2023. It is observed by the Court in the said matter as under:
“5 Respondent nos.6 and 7 may proceed ahead with the reconstitution of the said Committee as directed under Order dated 11.10.2017 in Public Interest Litigation No.25 of 2016 and Public Interest Litigation No.36 of 2016. The directions given in the said Public Interest Litigation which are applicable to the Pune Municipal Corporation shall also be read as applicable to Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
6 The directions given under judgment dated 11.10.2017 as referred to above shall be complied with by both the Corporations.
7 The Respondent no.8 shall also take steps for redressal of grievances of the cities with regard to the distribution of water as and when the same is brought to its notice.”
As the Pune Municipal Corporation was also party Respondent to the said PIL of 2022, the order dated 10th April 2023 shall also apply in the present PIL , the Bench directed.