Jharkhand High Court Orders State To Ensure Immediate Water Supply For Pakur District Residents, Criticizes Failure To Provide Safe Drinking Water

The Jharkhand High Court during a recent hearing, criticised the state government for not being able to provide safe drinking water to the residents of Pakur district of the State.

The court directed the State to make arrangements for an alternative method for water supply in the affected regions.

The above development occurred during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Mukul Bhattacharya, who argued that residents in wards 1 to 6 in Pakur Nagar Parishad have been without adequate water supply.

The petitioner prayed for the Court to direct the respondent to immediately arrange for the supply of drinking water to the affected residents who have been living without it for the last year.

The petitioner further prayed that the Court declare that non-supply of drinking water has serious constitutional implications depriving the residents of living a human life with dignity in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

It has also been prayed that the Court declare that the prolonged failure to provide drinking water in spite of representations from time to time is a glaring example of callousness and indifference to the statutory duties and function of Pakur Nagar Parishad in utter violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Additionally, the petitioner prayed that the Court declare that water tax collected by respondents without the supply of drinking water is arbitrary illegal and without jurisdiction.

The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, ordered the State to immediately ensure an alternative water source. The bench also cautioned that in case the same is not done, the court might summon the Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department

During the hearing, counsel appearing on behalf of the state government, Additional Advocate General Ashutosh Anand and Advocate Shahbaz Akhta informed the court that the concerned department is managing the water supply and has now installed the deep bore wells in various wards to address the water shortage.

He also added that additional bore wells are going to be installed after assessing the water supply situation. Additionally, he mentioned that discussions with the West Bengal government regarding the sharing of water from the Farakka Dam were nearing completion..

After hearing the arguments, the court instructed the State to submit an affidavit with details regarding the progress of the discussions with the Bengal government on water sharing and other measures taken.

The matter is scheduled to be heard in two weeks.