The Bombay High Court has directed the respondents to take necessary steps for constructing a temporary bridge between Vengnur and Regadi villages in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra at the earliest.
The Nagpur Division Bench of Justice Sunil B. Shukre and Justice Valmiki Sa Menezes heard a suo motu PIL on flooding of areas surrounding the villages (Vengnur, Surgaon, Adangepalli, Padkotola) 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 observed that in spite of highlighting the emergency of the situation, in which the unfortunate Tribal brethren has got itself caught, the authorities in charge of their welfare have done nothing except for paying lip service and sending a few communications here and there.
It was stated by K.S. Joshi, Additional Government Pleader (G.P.) that since the authorities were of the opinion that due to submergence of huge/large areas surrounding the concerned villages, it was not possible for them to make any efforts for construction of even a temporary bridge but, the authorities have provided seven speed boats as a facility for commuting between the isolated villages and the mainland of District Gadchiroli.
Providing of the facility of speed boat is certainly not enough, although it is required. If this facility has been provided, the authorities should have simultaneously made their strenuous efforts for preparing plans and estimates for construction of the proposed eight bridges and taken necessary steps in that direction.
So far, the plans and estimates, as the Court found from the reply filed on record by respondent, have not been prepared and have not been forwarded to the State Government. Besides, this reply filed by respondent is silent about providing of other facilities like 24 x 7 supply of the electricity, 24 x 7 availability of medical facilities and also sufficient educational facilities, observed the Bench.
However, the Additional G.P. submitted that providing of all these basic facilities is something which is not within the knowledge of the P.W.D. and the Collector (respondent No 5), is the one who would be putting all these facts on the record.
She submitted that reply of respondent No 5 is already prepared and it would be filed on record of the case in a short time.
According to her, all the basic facilities are already provided and now the Sub Health Care Center has also been sanctioned for village Vengnur on August 27, 2022.
Joshi further submitted that according to the MAHAVITARAN, there was a regular supply of electricity provided to all the affected villages and drinking water was also available to each of the villages.
“These facilities may be enough for the time being, but in order to lead a complete life, these facilities, in the long run, would not be enough as these villages remain cut-off from the main land for more than half of the year. Therefore, it is necessary for the state government and the authorities in-charge at the ground level to take urgent steps in the matter and in spite of repeated requests made by this Court, the authorities appear to have not looked into the matter so far”, held the Bench.
In the circumstances, the Court again directed the authorities to immediately prepare the plans and estimates for constructing each of the eight proposed bridges and forward the same to the State Government for approval on or before the next date.
Renuka Sirpurkar, Amicus Curiae , apprised the Bench that the proposal for constructing eight bridges is a long term solution and, therefore, such proposal would not bring any immediate relief to the affected village of Vengnur.
She submitted that if a bridge having length of 450 mt as per the own figures of the P.W.D. Gadchiroli was immediately constructed, many of the problems faced by the villagers would be addressed. She further submitted that even for constructing these bridges, by making a permanent structure or using some other material of temporary nature, no efforts have been made by the authorities.
The Court directed the respondents to look into the matter and take necessary steps for constructing a temporary bridge between Vengnur and Regadi villages at the earliest.
The Court posted the matter on November 16, 2022 for further hearing.