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The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has asked the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) to ensure the availability of clean drinking water in certain areas of Lucknow.
The Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla passed this order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Utkarsh Lok Sewa Sansthan Through its President (Aruna Singh) in 2016, concerning the quality of water supplied to their homes.
It is informed to the court that adequate drinking water is not being provided to the residents of Sarai Hasanganj, Barauri, Barauliya, Akbar Nagar, Hardasi Khera, Duda Colony, Damdan Ka Purwa, Chinhat and Matiyari in Lucknow.
The erstwhile Jal Sansthan has been wound up and now, Jal Kal Vibhag of the Municipal Corporation, Lucknow provides drinking facilities.
Jal Nigam is concerned with sewage, therefore, it has no concern with it, as informed by I.P Singh, counsel appearing for Jal Nigam.
He also informed the court that in a meeting attended by officials of the UP Jal Nigam and the State Authorities, a proposal was mooted for redressing the difficulties faced by the residents of the aforesaid areas and providing them proper drinking water but thereafter, it seems that nothing has happened.
The petition has remained pending since 2016, but the Municipal Corporation, Lucknow has not even bothered to file a counter affidavit in this matter.
Counsel for the petitioner invited the Court attention to the supplementary affidavit to drive home the point that even as of now, scarcity of drinking water in the aforesaid areas continues.
It is high time that Municipal Corporation, Lucknow especially the Jal Kal Vibhag woke up to the plight of the residents of the aforesaid areas and did something to remedy the same, the Court said.
“We do not appreciate the apathy on its part in this regard by not filing any counter affidavit and by not responding to our orders. We give it one opportunity to make a survey of the area to ascertain/ ensure availability of clean and adequate drinking water to the residents of the aforesaid areas and if it is found that this facility is lacking or deficient, then to take remedies as measures and file an affidavit in this regard positively by the next date of listing.
While doing so, the averments made in the writ petition and the supplementary affidavit shall also be responded”, the order reads.
Namit Sharma, Advocate is present in Court, as he is counsel for the Nagar Nigam, therefore, the Court directed him to communicate the court order to the concerned officers and also to ensure compliance.
The Court has fixed the next hearing of the petition on 29.05.2024 .
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