1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH AT NAGPUR Writ Petition No.2028/2010 ( Dr. Abdul Hameed Jamal s/o Abdul Majeed ..Vs.. State of Maharashtra & others ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Petitioner in person. Mr. Fulzele, A.G.P. for respondent no.1. Mr. S.K. Mishra, Adv. for Corporation. CORAM : D.D. SINHA & A.P. BHANGALE, JJ. DATE : 14th JANUARY 2011. Heard the petitioner in person, the learned A.G.P. for respondent no.1 and the learned counsel for the Corporation. The main prayer of the petitioner in the present writ petition is in respect of unequal distribution of water supply in the city of Nagpur. The petitioner has submitted that the different areas in the city of Nagpur are being treated unequally by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation regarding the distribution of water. The petitioner states that because of the policy of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, there is an unequal distribution of water in the different areas of Nagpur city and some areas are badly affected because water supply in those areas is minimum. It is prayed that that the appropriate directions be given to the Corporation to distribute the water equally to all the areas of Nagpur city. 2 Shri Mishra, learned counsel for the Corporation, has submitted that the Corporation is very much aware of the problem faced by the people of Nagpur and therefore, the projects under JNNURM are initiated at the costs of Rs.1500 Crore for creating the water supply infrastructure in the city of Nagpur. Shri Mishra further submitted that the work of first four projects is completed, due to which the Nagpur Municipal Corporation could divert the water from Pench source to the service area of Kanhan, which shall redress the issue of distribution of unequal water in Nagpur city partially. The learned counsel for the Corporation has further submitted that there are ongoing projects and the work of construction of new water plant of 240 MLD capacity with latest technology has been taken up on a priority basis along with laying new transmission pipelines of 1200 M.M. die from Kanhan to Nagpur city costing total Rs.865 Crores. The project was supposed to be completed by December 2010. It is further submitted that on completion of all the sanctioned projects under the JNNURM scheme the issue of unequal distribution in the city of Nagpur will be addressed to great extent by the end of 2012. Considered the sensitive issue involved in the writ petition as well as the contentions canvassed by the respective counsel. The access to water is a minimum expectation for the citizens and if they are deprived of this minimum expectation, in a given case, this may violate the provisions of Article 21 of the 3 Constitution of India. However, in the instant case, on the basis of the facts placed before us by Shri Mishra, the learned counsel for the Corporation, it appears that the efforts are being taken by the Corporation to complete various projects under JNNURM scheme to address the issue of unequal distribution of water in the various parts of the city. The cost involved and the time period has also been brought to the notice of this Court by the learned counsel for the Corporation. It is no doubt true that the efforts are being taken by the Corporation. However, we direct the Corporation as well as all the authorities concerned with the ongoing projects to see to it that the projects are completed within the stipulated period which will result in eradicating the problem of unequal distribution of water supply. With these observations writ petition is disposed of. JUDGE JUDGE Tambaskar.