Gauhati High Court Orders Shaping Up Of Assam State Groundwater Authority

GUWAHATI : Gauhati High court has asked the State Government to give the Assam State Groundwater authority a legal form as per the provisions of existing law and order. This has to be done by the state government within January 31, 2023 . The intent behind this step is to prevent the illegal sale of groundwater in the state.

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by two individuals, Abdul Hussain from Gorchuk and Ramij Ali from Noonmati, Guwahati. They had sought for help from the court to stop the illegal sale of groundwater, which is done by private tankers in the city.

Chief justice RM Chhaya and Justice Soumitra Saikia accepted the PIL and ordered the state government to take necessary actions towards the issue. They advised implementation of the provisions that come under the Assam Ground Water Control and Regulations Act 2012, and the Assam Ground Water Control and Regulations Rules 2022. The court directed the state government, Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Public Health Engineering (PHE) to look after the matter.

Close vigilance towards the issue will undertaken by the concerned departments. The state will also take actions against anyone who tries to violate the rules of the provision act of 2012 and 2022. Guwahati residents have limited access to piped water supply by GMC, Guwahati Jal Board or the PHE. The household that doesn't get this facility depends on private water supply tanks or bore well.

Last year, another PIL was filed against the crisis of water in the city by the senior citizen's forum, Chiriyakhana Path Jyestho Nagrik Sanstha. The court had asked the state government for a legal and written statement including its plan to supply potable water to the locals and the time needed to complete the task by October 27. The state government at that time stated that the Guwahati Water Project in under construction and will be completed by 2024.

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