HC may seek aid of OSLSA to assess drinking water facilities, power supply in villages
Cuttack: Orissa high court is considering seeking the assistance of Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) to assess the status of supply of drinking water and electrification in villages across the state.
The court gave this indication while hearing a PIL on Thursday regarding the lack of basic facilities in three villages of Nayagarh district. Earlier, in a reply to the PIL, the district collector (Nayagarh) filed an affidavit indicating the availability of basic facilities. From the affidavit, it was found that there was no electricity supply to 229 villages in Nayagarh.
Taking it on record, the court, on Aug 5 last year, asked the principal secretary of panchayati raj and drinking water department to file an affidavit disclosing the status of electrification and supply of drinking water to villages across the state. When the PIL was taken up for hearing on Thursday, the court found that no affidavit was filed as per the direction issued earlier.
Accordingly, the division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho said, “On the next date, this court will consider issuing directions to the Odisha State Legal Services Authority to obtain the inputs from para-legal volunteers throughout the state of Odisha as regards the status of supply of drinking water and electrification in the villages.”
It listed the matter for further hearing on Jan 9 and directed the principal secretary of panchayati raj and drinking water department and collector-cum-district magistrate, Nayagarh, to join the proceedings online.
The collector was expected to file a counter affidavit stating the scheme for electrification of villages and the steps which have been taken and are likely to be taken for the purpose.
Berhampur-based Bharatiya Bikash Parishad filed the petition seeking the court’s intervention against the lack of electricity, pucca roads, safe drinking water, health, education and communication, including mobile network.
The reply affidavit filed by collector Swadha Dev Singh on Aug 5, 2024, disclosed that 1,443 of the 1,672 villages in Nayagarh district have electricity supply. While 107 villages are not connected by all-weather roads, 247 don’t have mobile connectivity. All villages have tube-wells for drinking water, and a mega piped water supply scheme will also cover them shortly, the affidavit stated.
The court gave this indication while hearing a PIL on Thursday regarding the lack of basic facilities in three villages of Nayagarh district. Earlier, in a reply to the PIL, the district collector (Nayagarh) filed an affidavit indicating the availability of basic facilities. From the affidavit, it was found that there was no electricity supply to 229 villages in Nayagarh.
Taking it on record, the court, on Aug 5 last year, asked the principal secretary of panchayati raj and drinking water department to file an affidavit disclosing the status of electrification and supply of drinking water to villages across the state. When the PIL was taken up for hearing on Thursday, the court found that no affidavit was filed as per the direction issued earlier.
Accordingly, the division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho said, “On the next date, this court will consider issuing directions to the Odisha State Legal Services Authority to obtain the inputs from para-legal volunteers throughout the state of Odisha as regards the status of supply of drinking water and electrification in the villages.”
It listed the matter for further hearing on Jan 9 and directed the principal secretary of panchayati raj and drinking water department and collector-cum-district magistrate, Nayagarh, to join the proceedings online.
The collector was expected to file a counter affidavit stating the scheme for electrification of villages and the steps which have been taken and are likely to be taken for the purpose.
Berhampur-based Bharatiya Bikash Parishad filed the petition seeking the court’s intervention against the lack of electricity, pucca roads, safe drinking water, health, education and communication, including mobile network.
The reply affidavit filed by collector Swadha Dev Singh on Aug 5, 2024, disclosed that 1,443 of the 1,672 villages in Nayagarh district have electricity supply. While 107 villages are not connected by all-weather roads, 247 don’t have mobile connectivity. All villages have tube-wells for drinking water, and a mega piped water supply scheme will also cover them shortly, the affidavit stated.
