SC seeks explanation from Centre on water shortage

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Science and Technology directing him to file a counter affidavit within four weeks stating what measures are been taken to solve the water shortage problem in the country through water conservation and for implementing the recommendation of Justice Markandey Katju earlier. A bench comprising Justices Katju and B Sudershan Reddy also issued notices to the newly added states in the petition filed by one M K Balakrishnan and others. Fixing April 28 as the next date of hearing, the apex court took serious note of the acute water shortage being faced by the people in the country due to sudden disappearance of the water conservation bodies such as ponds, tanks, small lakes which have been filled up in recent times by some greedy people who have also constructed shops, buildings on the same. Noting earlier that shortage of water sometimes leads to riots, road blockades and gives rise to serious law and order problem since life without water is not possible, Justice Katju had recommended to the Union government in his judgment in the state of Orissa versus Government of India to immediately constitute a body of eminent scientists in the field who should be requested to do the research in this area on a war-footing to find out scientific ways and means of solving the water crisis in the country. It was also recommended that the body be given all financial, technical and administrative help by the Central and State governments for this purpose. Scientists were requested to find cheaper methods of water consumption as the current methods like distillation or reverse osmosis are very expensive. The body was also requested to find a viable and inexpensive method of utilising rain water as also ice and snow in the Himalayas and to utilise the flood water by harnessing the river so that the excess water could be stored in reservoir. The apex court has also directed that this body may also seek help and advise from foreign scientific experts or from the Indian scientists settled abroad. The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana were present in the court yesterday as they were directed to explain their casual attitude by appearing personally.

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