Court directs action in irregularities in the work of KT weirs

Aurangabad, July 13:

The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court today directed the government to take immediate action against the irregularities in the work of 35 Kolhapuri Type Weirs (KT Weirs) and bridge-cum-barrages in Jintur and Selu tehsils. Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice M G Sewlikar disposed of the petition expressing the expectation that the government should not make any delay in this regard.

Parbhani Zilla Parishad member Avinash Kale filed a public interest litigation (PIL) through adv Siddheshwar S Thombre alleging irregularities in the work of the weirs. The petition requested to investigate the irregularities in the work and register criminal offences against the culprits. Kale had earlier filed a PIL. An inquiry committee was appointed. Therefore, the bench had disposed of the PIL. But no inquiry was launched thereafter. The investigating officer did not provide any records. As it was observed that the government had filed an affidavit to settle the PIL, Kale filed another PIL. Adv Thombre pointed out to the bench that the inquiry committee was evading investigation. The committee did not file the inquiry report. The PIL was heard before High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Ravindra Ghuge, who had directed the inquiry committee to file an affidavit on what action was taken in this regard and why the inquiry was not completed. Following the orders, the member secretary of the inquiry committee submitted the report through an affidavit. As per the affidavit, an inquiry into the irregularities in the work of the dams will be completed by July 31, 2021 and a report will be submitted to the government. The bench directed an immediate inquiry, stating that the affidavit would be taken as a written guarantee given by the high court. Chief public prosecutor D R Kale represented the government.