Manipur High Court: The Division Bench of KH. Nobin Singh and A. Bimol Singh, JJ., issued certain directions in response to a Public Interest Litigation which was filed by a resident of Chalou Maning Leikai, contending that after the said village having been declared as a Containment Zone, no water is available for the reason that the Water Tankers are reluctant to come to the area for supply of water.
It was prayed that the authorities be directed to comply with the interim guidelines issued by the WHO. The scope of this PIL was expanded to cover all the areas and in particular, the Containment Zone areas only in the State of Manipur.
On 28-07-2021 Court while issuing notice to the respondents had passed an interim order directing that the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East shall be instructed by the State Government to supply water at the expense of the residents.
As regards the other containment zone areas in Manipur, the Court while disposing of this PIL, was of the view that the following directions be issued:
- The Department of PHED, Government of Manipur is directed to publish the contact numbers of the concerned Executive Engineers, PHED in the local dailies within a week from today;
- If any person who resides in any containment zone area, is in need of water on account of the fact that the area has been declared as the containment zone area, may contact the Executive Engineer, PHED of the concerned area over the telephone number notified and make a request for supply of water;
- In the event of such a request being made by any person from any of the containment zone areas, the Executive Engineer, PHED of the concerned area shall supply the water for which the cost is to be borne by the residents of the area.
[Moirangthem Maipak Singh v. State of Manipur, PIL No. 38 of 2021, decided on 02-08-2021]
Suchita Shukla, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.
