Release of dam water: State to urge court to modify order
The state government has indicated that they will urge the Bombay high court to modify its order, based on which, water was released from two dams — Bhama Akshed and Andra— for the Ujjani dam in Solapur.
The state government has indicated that they will urge the Bombay high court to modify its order, based on which, water was released from two dams — Bhama Akshed and Andra— for the Ujjani dam in Solapur.
Sources state that almost 50% of the water will be lost by the time it reaches its destination, which will ultimately lead to loss of resources for people who are dependent on the two dams.
“We won’t ask the court to recall its earlier order but to modify it,” said Sandeep Shinde, assistant government pleader.
“We will leave it to the court to suggest some solution, such as calling for a report based on which all the possibilities can be explored,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shinde informed the court that a chairman has been appointed for the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA).
However, the chairman cannot take a decision alone as the posts of other members are still vacant, the court was told.
Shinde informed the court that the members for WRMA will be appointed within two weeks.
A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice MS Sanklecha has directed the state to make the authority functional within a week.
“This authority shall take the necessary decisions regarding distribution of water,” the court said while adjourning the hearing till April 24.
Petitioner’s lawyer, Madhav Choudhuri, urged that the force of the released water should be fast so that it reaches Ujjani within reasonable time.
The court was hearing a petition filed by a farmer’s association — Mohol Taluka Bahu Udeshiya Shetkari. The president of the association, Shankarrao Sathe, said that the authorities are not implementing provisions for equitable water distribution.