Nagpur: The Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench has raised serious concerns over the Maharashtra government’s handling of the Yavatmal drinking water supply scheme under the Amrut Yojana. Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri are considering setting up an enquiry commission to investigate alleged irregularities, following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social worker Digambar Pajgade. The PIL highlights ongoing water supply issues in Yavatmal, particularly during the summer, despite the project being launched in 2017-2018 with a goal of delivering 60 litres of drinking water daily per resident by October 2019.
The project, executed through an agreement between PL Adke Construction Company and Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP), faced significant setbacks due to a faulty 18 km stretch of pipeline leading to the Takli filter station. Despite a Rs 150 crore contract with Kolkata-based Balaji Industries Limited to supply pipes for the 28 km pipeline, repeated failures during hydraulic tests caused burst pipes and extensive crop damage. The court questioned the government’s handling of the issue, noting that compensation for farmers affected by the floods had been paid but suggesting it should be recovered from the contractors with 18% penal interest.
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In response, the government defended its actions in court, stating that faulty pipes were replaced at the contractor’s expense, and third-party inspections were conducted to ensure quality. The project, which has two phases worth Rs 221.90 crore and Rs 55.62 crore, remains critical to addressing Yavatmal’s acute water shortages. The court has directed the government to submit a legal framework for setting up the enquiry commission within three weeks.
