NT Reporter
Panaji
The High Court has impleaded the Department of Drinking Water as a respondent in a public interest litigation (PIL) related to illegal digging and construction of borewells for commercial purposes.
The petitioner, Ana Gracias, has sought directions to seal illegal borewells and to direct the Chimbel panchayat, the Public Works Department and the Electricity Department to take immediate action against unauthorised digging and construction of borewells for commercial purposes. It was submitted that illegal borewells and unauthorised transportation of water have caused depletion of groundwater levels, leading to water scarcity in several localities.
An additional government advocate submitted that the Department of Drinking Water is a necessary party to the proceedings and had not been impleaded earlier.
“Considering the subject matter of the dispute involved in this proceeding, the Department of Drinking Water, represented by its chief engineer, is hereby impleaded as respondent no 5,” the High Court stated.
It issued notice to the newly impleaded respondent, returnable on February 17.
The additional government advocate waived formal notice on behalf of all respondents. The High Court said no formal notice was required and directed the additional government advocate to file a consolidated reply on behalf of all respondents within two weeks, with an advance copy to the petitioner’s counsel.
The matter has been listed for February 17.
