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Synopsis

The Supreme Court has directed the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana 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 which is detrimental to 25 villages in the States and has remained unresolved for last many years, can be resolved.

"Therefore, we direct 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", a bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna has ordered.

In 2019, the Supreme Court directed the Chairman of Central Water Commission (CWC) to conduct a meeting to find a solution to the problem of floods experienced by agriculturists from 25 villages due to the overflowing river Ghaggar. The States of Haryana and Punjab were also asked to participate in the meeting.

It was decided in the said meeting that a Mathematical Model Study (MMS) should be conducted by CWPRS, Pune, regarding the mitigation of flood problems for the entire Ghaggar basin in consultation with the respective State Governments.

ASG Aishwarya Bhati appearing on behalf of the Central Water Commission accordingly placed on record the additional information regarding Mathematical Model Study (MMS) on the Ghaggar basin and the latest updates.

The Top Court yesterday noted that the recommendations made by CWPRS, Pune in the form of MMS have also been considered by the Ghaggar Standing Committee.

Accordingly, Court asked the concerned stakeholders to conduct periodical meetings every four weeks to discuss the progress on the implementation of the recommendations.

"The Ghaggar Standing Committee to send a report after receiving all further information from the concerned States on implementation of the recommendations every three months to the Central Water Commission and in turn the Central Water Commission to submit the report before this Court in the present proceedings", the court further ordered.

The matter will be taken up on November 9, 2022.

Case Title: Nagar Panchayat Moonak and Ors. vs. State of Punjab and Ors.