As per the court direction, the committee would consist of municipal commissioner, divisional commissioner, chief city engineer and member secretary of District Legal Services Authority. Taking note of the information that a key committee constituted for addressing grievances of citizens on water supply has hardly met, the Bombay High Court has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to reconstitute the panel, which will address the issue once in two months.
“The Bombay High Court took note of the above information and has directed that the said committee be reconstituted separately for PMC and PCMC and the committees shall attend to the complaints of the residents regarding water scarcity. The PMRDA has been directed to address the water problems faced by the residents coming under their jurisdiction,” said Satya Muley, lawyer representing 11 associations of residential societies.
He said a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne heard the petitioners on April 10 on the water crisis in Pune district.
As per the court direction, the committee would consist of municipal commissioner, divisional commissioner, chief city engineer and member secretary of District Legal Services Authority.
The committee is to consist of people who are actually involved in the redressal of the water problem faced by the residents of the affected areas.
Muley said he pointed out to the court that the same subject was dealt by the high court in 2016 when the suburban areas of Baner and Balewadi faced severe water problem and at that time the high court had imposed a stay on granting permissions for new constructions in the Pune Municipal Corporation area.
It was pointed out that in the current scenario, several housing societies across Pune district are facing severe water shortages and spend huge money to purchase water from private water tanker operators.
If the committee fails to address the concerns of the residents, then the court can be approached for further justice, he said.
On November 29 and December 15 last year, the Bombay High Court had expressed serious concerns about the issue and also had warned of imposing fine on the respondents for their slow response.
Those who filed the petition include Wagholi Housing Societies Association, Pune District Co-operative Housing Societies And Apartments Federation, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, Pimpri-Chinchwad Co-operative Housing Welfare Societies Federation Limited, Baner – Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust, Balewadi Residency Co-operative Housing Welfare Federation Limited, Dear Society Welfare Association, Bavdhan Citizens Forum, Hinjawadi Employees and Residents Trust, Aundh Vikas Mandal and Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum.