Drinking water must be given a priority, Bombay HC tells state govt
MUMBAI: Bombay high court recently reminded the state government that its own policy states that water for drinking must be given a priority over water for irrigation purposes. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice MS Sanklecha on May 10, 2013 heard two petitions by Raosahebdada Pawar Ghodganga Sahakari Karkhana Limited and Baburao Kashinath Pachame pointing out that water stored in Kukdi project is not being supplied even for drinking purpose to the Ghod dam for the surrounding villages including Shirur and Inamgaon. The judges said it is for the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority constituted under the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act, 2005 to pass appropriate orders for allocation of water. The judges pointed out that in a judgment of this court given in March 2013 on a petition by the Society for Backlog Removal and Development and others vs The State of Maharashtra, the water policy of the state government contained in the