Observing that concrete construction can remain without water but not human beings, the Bombay high court on Friday directed the Thane Municipal Corporation to refuse grant of permission for new construction until June 9, on Ghodbunder road.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice GS Kulkarni said since people are reeling under the heat, water should be treated as life-saving. Thane Municipal Corporation cannot shun their statutory responsibility."
The court has restrained the civic body from issuing commencement and occupation certificates to developers till then. The court also noted that resident are forced to take water daily from tankers thus they are left to the mercy of builders. However, the civic body opposed the plea claiming that sufficient water is provided and there is no shortage. Petitioner Advocate V Patil refuted the claims saying he himself resided in Ghodbunder road and there was indeed a scarcity of water.
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by Thane resident Mangesh Shelar claiming a severe shortage of water supply in various housing complexes at Ghodbunder road.
Advocate VP Patil argued that housing societies are not getting proper water supply and are forced to call for water tankers on a daily basis. Complaints to the civic body have fallen on deaf ears.
Earlier the court, while hearing the plea, stated, "Maharashtra is a welfare state. Providing water is the duty of the corporation and by not doing so it seems a parallel water tanker economy is being promoted,"
