After Kumbh Shahi Snan, HC stops dam water for Jain fair

In view of water scarcity in Maharashtra, the Bombay high court on Monday restrained the state government from releasing water from Gangapur dam in Nashik and nearby reservoirs during the Mahavir Jain festival at a twin-pinnacled peak in Nashik district from February 11 to 16.

The direction was given by a Bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka on a petition filed by HM Desarda, a professor from Pune who apprehended that the government may release water from dams during the forthcoming festival just as it had done during the Kumbh last year.

The court also directed the Principal Secretary of the state's Irrigation department to file an affidavit setting out outer time period when rules of the Maharashtra Irrigation Act would be framed. The Bench said though the Maharashtra Irrigation Act had been passed, the rules had not been framed so far. In the absence of rules, it would be difficult to implement the Act, the Judges said. The court also directed the Maharashtra government to declare its water policy during the next hearing on February 29.