November 4th 2023.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in an effort to bring fair distribution of water to the residents of Maharashtra's Nashik and Ahmednagar districts. These districts rely on water from the Mula, Pravara, Gangapur, Godavari Darna, and Palkhed dam groups on the Godavari River. The PIL was filed by the co-operative society Late Rajabhau Tugar Sahakari Upsa Sinchan Sanstha Maryadit, a society that works to promote irrigation.
The PIL seeks to quash the order issued by the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) on October 30. According to this order, 8.603 thousand million cubic feet of water will be released from the five upstream dam groups to the Jayakwadi dam. This dam provides water to the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in the Marathwada region, which is especially vulnerable to drought.
The PIL states that if the water is released according to the GMIDC’s order, then both Nashik and Ahmednagar districts will face a severe water shortage, even for drinking. This is especially concerning considering that the upstream groups of dams only received 52% of the average rainfall this year, resulting in a significant reduction in the water level of the region’s wells.
On July 26, a Government Resolution was issued by the state’s Water Resources Department to set up a committee to reassess the water distribution requirements and prepare an appropriate directive principle. Despite this, the GMIDC issued its water release order in October without waiting for the committee’s report. The PIL alleges that this is contrary to law and goes against the statutory duty of the State Government to call for a Committee Report and act only in accordance with its findings.
It is also alleged that the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) set up a committee in September 2014 to formulate a scheme for equitable distribution of water. However, the PIL states that the MWRRA has failed to comply with the statutory requirement and has not reviewed the guiding principle each year and made a report to the MWRRA as required.
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