In view of water scarcity in Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court restrained the state government from releasing water from the Gangapur dam in Nashik and nearby reservoirs during Mahavir Jain festival at a twin-pinnacled peak in Nashik district from 11 to 16 February.
The direction was given by a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka on a petition filed by HM Desarda, a professor from Pune.
Desarda alleged that the government may release water from the dams during the forthcoming religious festival just as it had done during the Kumbh festival last year.
Bombay High Court BenchThe government has a policy which categorises its priority list....supply of water for drinking purposes comes first and supply of water for such shahi snaan purposes comes in the last category.
Mangi-Tungi is a prominent twin-pinnacled peak located near Tahrabad about 125 km from Nashik. Mangi at 4,343 feet height above sea level is the western pinnacle while Tungi, standing 4,366 feet high, is on the eastern side.
The bench said that though Maharashtra Irrigation Act had been passed the rules had not been framed so far. In the absence of the rules, it would be difficult to implement the Act, the Judges said.
The HC has directed the Principal Secretary of the state’s irrigation department to file an affidavit seeking time period required for the rules of Maharashtra Irrigation Act to be framed.
The court also directed Maharashtra government to declare its water policy during the next hearing of the petition on 29 February. The matter would be placed high on board on that day in view of its importance, the Judges noted.
Water-Loss During Shahi Snan
In September last year, the high court had directed the state not to release water from Gangapur dam for the ‘shahi snan’ during the Kumbh Mela even though many parts of the state are facing drought.
Professor Desarda had challenged the state’s decision to release one TMC (thousand million cubic) water for every ‘shahi snaan’ during the Kumbh Mela even though many parts of Maharashtra are facing a drought.
The bench had then ruled that the state government would have to take prior permission from the court if it wanted to use the dam water for Kumbh Mela.
The court had criticised the state government for releasing two TMC water for 13 September shahi snaan.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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