IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE THIRTIETH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI ANIL R. DAVE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION No: 837 of 2008 Between: Simhadri Satyanarayana Rao, S/o. Late Ramakrishnaiah, R/o. Avanigadda, Krishna District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Chief Engineer (RWS), Errum Manzil, Hyderabad. 2 The Superintending Engineer, Rural Water Supply, Bandar Road, Near Zilla Parishad Guest House, Vijaywada, Krishna District. 3 The Executive Engineer (R.W.S), P.R. Division, Gudiwada, Krishna District. 4 The District Collector, Krishna, District at Machilipatnam. 5 The Sarpanch, Avanigadda Gram Panchayat, Krishna District. 6 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Secretary, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department, Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents in not taking steps for proper maintenance and repairing of drinking water filter beds and over-head tanks and not providing safe drinking water in Avanigadda Gram Panchayat and also in the Village of Jaruguvanipalem, Padalavaripalem of Kodur Mandal and North Chiruvolu Lanka of Mopidevi Mandal is wholly illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India and pass Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.RAVI KONDAVEETI Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ & RURAL DEV. The Court made the following: ORAL ORDER: (Per Sri Anil R. Dave, CJ) This is a public interest litigation wherein it has been alleged that in Avanigadda as well as some other villages like Jaruguvanipalem, Padalavaripalem etc., potable water is not being supplied by their respective gram panchayats. The matter was heard from time to time. The learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondent-authorities has submitted that, at present, potable water is being supplied, in all for two hours a day, to the residents of Avanigadda Gram Panchayat. According to him, the quantity of water being supplied is sufficient to cater the needs of all the residents of Avanigadda Gram Panchayat. It has been further submitted by him that in pursuance of this petition filed by the petitioner, the Executive Engineer, RWS&S Division, Gudiwada, has submitted a report with regard to supply of potable water in Avanigadda village and other villages. It has been submitted in the report that needful is being done for better arrangements for supply of water. It has been stated in the report as under: “The Gram Panchayat is executing the above works and schedule for completion is as follows: Gravity main. : 31st March, 2009 Inlet arrangement. : 30th April, 2009 Earth work excavation of SS tank. : 31st May, 2009” Thus, it appears that, by 31.05.2009, work with regard to cleaning of summer storage tank would be over and thereafter all the residents of Avanigadda Gram Panchayat and other villages would be continuously getting potable water. In pursuance of the above statement made by the learned Government Pleader and upon perusal of the report of the Executive Engineer, RWS&S Division, Gudiwada, we are satisfied that the grievance ventilated in the petition has been now substantially redressed. We are sure that necessary cleaning work of the summer storage tank would be done as per the schedule. In the circumstances, the petition stands disposed of with no order as to costs. ___________________ ANIL R. DAVE, CJ _____________________________ RAMESH RANGANATHAN, J 30th March 2009 CVRK