SHILLONG:
The Meghalaya High Court on Friday asked the state to come up with long-term and short-term plans to address the issue of water supply in Shillong city.
In its order, the division bench said, “Apart from the problem of exorbitant rates charged by water tankers supplying water to various parts of the city, which the State must immediately regulate and rein in, there have to be long-term and short-term plans put in place for the immediate future and how the State reckons the demand for water would be, say, 20 years hence.”
The court said the state would also do well to clean and rejuvenate water bodies in and around the city particularly the rivers and streams that may have been choked or completely contaminated.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Thomas Passah on the issue of water supply in the state.
“The District Council should be tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that local folk who live by the water-bodies act responsibly,” the division comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh said.
The court also pointed out that there are also central projects with sufficient funds, particularly to the Northeastern states, that may be availed of.
The bench also directed the state government to file a comprehensive affidavit covering all aspects indicated by the time the matter appears next a fortnight hence.
The court stated that the affidavit should also indicate the outlines of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme, including whether any place in addition to Mawphlang is proposed as a site for an additional reservoir.
During the hearing, a status report was filed by the state government pertaining to the water supply in the capital city of Shillong.
The next hearing in the case has been listed for July 21, 2023.