The Bombay High Court has directed the District Collector and Chief Executive Officer of Gadchiroli District to take urgent measures in providing appropriate access to the villages of Wengnur, Padkotola, Adangepalli and Surgaon immediately and preferably on or before the next date.
The Nagpur Division Bench of Justice Sunil B. Shukre and Justice Valmiki Sa Menezes heard a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the issue of flooding of areas surrounding the four villages by the backwaters of Dina River Project, as a result of which, these villages remain completely cut-off for more than six-seven months of the year.
During the hearing, the Court noted that that all these four villages are entirely inhabited by persons of the Madia Gond Tribe, which has been identified by the Central Government as a Vulnerable Tribe vide Government of India Ministry of Tribal Affairs Circular dated 17.09.2019, thereby entitling the tribals to various benefits and also allocation of funds for the works to be carried out for their benefit.
Further, the Bench observed that the State Government has not so far taken any concrete steps for providing all weather access to these four villages. The State Government as well as Zilla Parishad Gadchiroli, have not filed any reply to the petition, although, Government Pleader has sought further four weeks time to file reply in the matter.
The Principal Secretary, Department of Tribal and Social Welfare, the Principal Secretary-Public Health Department, the Principal Secretary Public Works Department, the Principal Secretary Forest Department have been added as a party respondents to the petition.