Maharashtra village gets 10 water tankers on Ganesh Chaturthi eve after Bombay High Court intervenes

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to ensure that the residents of Kambe village in Thane district, Maharashtra get water through tankers on the eve of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival (Shobha Vikas Bhoi & Ors v. State of Maharashtra & Ors)..The Bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and Milind Jadhav was hearing a petition filed by residents of Kambe village seeking supply of drinking water on a daily basis.They alleged that STEM Water Distribution and Infra Company was illegally supplying water to local political leaders and tanker lobbies and that there were over 300 illegal water connections and valves fixed on the main pipeline..On Thursday, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni submitted to the Court that the State was going to find a solution to the two issues before it:To remove the illegal connections .To ensure there is regular supply of potable water.He informed the Court that the MD of the company and his team will get together to chalk out an action plan to tackle both these issues. .However, the Court expressed their distrust in the MD and directed Kumbhakoni to form a special committee to look into the issues and to appoint Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and Additional Commissioner Suresh Kakani on the committee."Keep your MD out. We have no trust in the MD. Appoint our Commissioner. We find him responsible," Justice Kathawalla said. .Advocate RD Suryawanshi, appearing for the villagers, pleaded to the Court that with a festival around the corner, it was important for the villagers to have water. He asked that least 10 water tankers be sent to the village.While the Court enquired about the costs for arranging the tankers, Justice Kathawalla quipped, "Either you (State) pay or I will pay."The Court was then told that the company will bear the costs of the tankers. .Before adjourning the matter, the Court indicated that it planned to send the orders in this matter to the Chief Minister to ensure there are no more such villages without water. "We are going to send this order to the Chief Minister, otherwise the name of this State will be tainted. It is a shame that after 75 years there are such petitions, but State should not be shamed further.".The Bench had on Wednesday pulled up officials from STEM and the civic authorities for failing to provide drinking water to the village for a long time. The Managing Director of STEM was also directed to submit an affidavit on how the company planned to remove the illegal connections..AG Kumbhakoni assured the Court that by Tuesday, he would inform the Court of a plan of action for removing the illegal connections. He submitted that the plan will be executed in a phase-wise manner with adequate protection to ensure that there are no casualties due to protests. He also informed the Court that the State planned to build a direct water connection into the village, bypassing all the illegal connections.