Interim scheme for water packaging units sans licence

A division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R Suresh Kumar allowed the temporary scheme based on the assurance given by Advocate General Vijay Narayan on instructions from the State that it would permit all the water packaging units to temporarily operate even without license as per GO No.142 dated July 23, 2017, with a condition that they hand over 15 per cent of their daily output to the District Collectors in the respective areas.

However, the bench also directed the State government to issue a fresh GO for implementation of the temporary scheme. It also sought the District Level Monitoring Committee, which included two advocate commissioners appointed by the Principal District Judge, to ensure compliance of the order and submit a report two weeks after July 31.

The Advocate General told the court that licences have been issued so far to 121 of the 690 applications received. The applications of the remaining 332 units were under field verification and reports have been received regards 237 units,he added.

But as the processing of applications would be completed only by July 31, the units in the eligible category would be allowed to work immediately, subject to the condition that 15 per cent of their daily output would be handed over to the District Collector in the respective areas at the nominated anddesignated place, he said. Also, the facility to transport this quota of water must be arranged by the manufacturing units themselves, Vijay Narayan said.

He also submitted that a separate record of this free distribution and handing over of 15 per cent production of the water packaging units should be maintained by the units and the State government, and a report of this would be furnished to the court after July 31.

However, regarding non-eligible categories (over exploited and critical firkhas), 396 applications have been received. These applications would be considered on a case-to-case basis, and if found eligible, they would also be permitted to start their operations to meet the urgent need, the advocate general said.