'First Priority Is Clean Drinking Water For All Inmates': Bombay High Court On Reports Of Water Shortage In Taloja Prison

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the local planning authority and state prison officials to ensure separate clean drinking water for Taloja Central prison inmates at the earliest.

The division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse was informed that there was severe water shortage with inmates receiving just 1-1.5 buckets of unclean water a day for drinking, washing clothes and utensils, bathing as well as toilet facilities.

"The first priority is drinking water to all inmates. Give them clean drinking water. Not from the syntax tank but a different source. No point if it is the same quality. Since the water has sediments and dust, install a water purifier."

The court further gave the State two weeks to take instructions regarding steps to ensure there is adequate water supply, specifically regarding the Sewage Treatment Plant. The State is required to report on the exact daily water supply.

The bench was dealing with a petition filed by Abhay Kurundkar, a former cop, and an accused in the murder of another police officer, with whom he was allegedly having an affair.

Kurundkar an inmate of Taloja sought adequate water for the inmates of the jail claiming the water supply from the local planning authority – City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) was grossly inadequate.

Accordingly, the court had directed the District Legal Services Authority to visit the prison and submit a report along with recommendations.

On Thursday, the report was placed before the bench. According to the report, prison inmates said they received 1 to 1.5 buckets of water a day for drinking, bathing, washing utensils and everything else.

Two wells within the prison compound were 95% and 90% dry respectively. As far as cleanliness was concerned the plastic Syntax Tank used to store water was found to be clean but not the water in it, according to the report.

The DLSA's report further said that water in the buckets was not clean as it had sediments and dust. Moreover, there was no separate provision for cleaning the water.

Due to the poor condition of the roof, rain water harvesting wasn't possible. The roof was found to be leaking and covered with plastic sheets. The well walls also required strengthening, the court noted in its order.

The bench also noted the possibility of water wastage when it is stored in the corridors outside barracks.

"Take instructions on what steps can be taken to improve the water supply. We are keeping it after two weeks but we hope it is done within a week," Justice Dere said and adjourned the matter for two weeks.