Access to clean water a fundamental right, says Bombay HC; flags scarcity in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Access to clean and potable water is a fundamental right, the Bombay High Court on Monday said while expressing concern over water scarcity in the state, and sought to know from the government when the issue would be resolved.

A bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata was hearing a bunch of petitions over the issue of deaths of infants, pregnant and lactating mothers due to malnutrition in the tribal Melghat area of Amravati district in the Vidarbha region.

The court was informed that amid soaring summer temperatures, the area was severely affected due to a shortage of clean and potable water. In the last hearing in April, the court was informed that 13 persons had died in the area due to consumption of contaminated water.

The government informed the bench on Monday that potable water tankers were being provided periodically, but the petitioners said the supply was erratic.

The high court then said the government was not doing any "favours" by providing water tankers.

"Access to clean and potable water is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, and the government has a duty to provide the same to all its citizens. Not just the Melghat region but the entire state is facing the issue of water scarcity," it said.

The court directed the government to inform it by when the issue would be resolved and what steps it has taken on the same, and posting the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.