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The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to ensure that the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) completes its project to supply water through pipelines to 69 villages there by June 31.
A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Amjay Sayyed was hearing a public interest litigation filed by corporator Rajkumar Chorge, seeking a direction to the authorities to complete the project.
According to the PIL, following the January 15, 2008 government resolution issued by the Water Supply and Sanitation Department, work orders were issued to complete the Vasai-Virar sub regional water supply scheme within 18 months.
The government sanctioned Rs 85.16 lakhs for the scheme and it was decided that 10 per cent of this amount would be borne by Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran to be recovered by way of tax.
The petition said the work should have been completed by December 31, 2010 but companies executing the task sought extension of time.
The petitioner states that in spite of this, the said companies have failed to complete the job of laying and connecting the pipe line for water supply.
The court noted that on June 12, 2013 the civic body assured that the project would be completed within a year.
"We accept this assurance and direct the work to be completed by June 30. The executive engineer shall then submit a letter to the state government which shall then appoint a senior officer to verify if the project has been completed. A compliance report shall be filed before this court on August 19," the court directed.
