Gauhati High Court Closes PIL Challenging Non-Completion Of Augmentation Of Greater Diphu Water Supply Scheme

The Gauhati High Court recently closed a PIL raising the grievance regarding non-completion of the 'Augmentation of Greater Diphu Water Supply Scheme in Karbi Anglong District', by observing that the Assam Government has already approached the Central Government for the purpose of providing fund for implementation of the aforesaid Water Supply Scheme and the matter is now under active consideration with the Central Government.

The division bench of the Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam was informed by the Additional Advocate General, Assam that a communication dated November 30, 2023 sent by the Additional Director (PP), Transformation & Development Department, Government of Assam to the Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India for the purpose of supplying some information so that the Central Government may release appropriate fund for the purpose of implementation of the above referred Water Supply Scheme.

The Standing Counsel appearing for the Public Health Engineering Department, Assam Government submitted that the matter is under active consideration with the Central Government and the State of Assam is hopeful that necessary fund will be provided by the Central Government for the purpose of implementation of the above referred Water Supply Scheme very soon.

However, the Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that he has not been able to make any contact with the petitioner since long and, therefore, pleaded no instructions in the matter.

“Taking into consideration the fact that the State Government has already approached the Central Government for the purpose of providing fund for implementation of the aforesaid Water Supply Scheme and the matter is now under active consideration with the Central Government, we deem it appropriate to close this PIL petition with the expectation that the Central Government will soon release the fund for the purpose of implementation of the aforesaid Water Supply Scheme and on availability of the said fund, the State Government shall implement the Scheme without any further delay,” the Court observed.

Case Title: KamalSing Bey v. The Union of India & 7 Ors.

Case No. PIL/72/2019

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