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In August, a division bench of the Top Court had directed the concerned States to take appropriate steps in terms of the recommendations made in the final Model Study Report submitted by CWPRS, Pune and to take all corrective measures as suggested/recommended.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday noted that though Status Reports were filed on behalf of State of Punjab and State of Haryana, no further concrete steps had been taken except holding the meetings to act appropriately and in time bound manner as per the recommendations made in the final Model Study Report by Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune so that the problem of overflooding of Ghaggar basin could be resolved.
"It is very unfortunate that, after the last orders passed by this Court, except two meetings of the Ghaggar Standing Committee, no further concrete steps are taken either by the State of Punjab and/or State of Haryana on the recommendations made by the CWPRS, Pune....", observed a miffed Supreme Court bench.
Justice MR Shah led bench further remarked that the common man was not interested in meetings but in finding out the solution.
"Every State Government should consider the public interest first above the politics. Though the major portion of the affected area is the State of Punjab, the State of Punjab has not taken the matter very seriously....", further said a bench also comprising Justice MM Sundresh.
Court has thus directed the Chief Secretaries of the concerned States, who were present in Court, to take up the issue very seriously and sincerely so that the people of 25 villages who are affected due to flood every year may not have to suffer any further.
"The concerned States are directed to prepare and submit the proposed Detailed Project Reports to implement the recommendations made in the final Model Study Report submitted by the CWPRS, Pune and the orders passed by this Court within a period of four weeks from today", thus ordered the bench.
It has been further directed that the Detailed Project Reports shall be absolutely in tune with the recommendations of the CWPRS, Pune and no State shall deviate from the same.
Before submitting the proposed Detailed Project Reports, Court has asked that the same shall be shared by the concerned States to the Central Water Commission [CWC] and the Central Water Commission shall apprise the Court whether the proposed Detailed Project Reports are in consonance with the recommendations made by the CWPRS, Pune or not.
"In the Detailed Project Reports, the concerned States shall fix the time-limit which shall be reasonable and which may not delay the implementations of the recommendations because every year at least minimum 25 villages are suffering because of the flood", the order added.
The matter will now be next heard on January 3rd, 2023.
Case Title: Nagar Panchayat Moonak and Ors. vs. State of Punjab and Ors.
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