ANANDRAO NAMDEV DHIGHE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The issues involved in these petitions overlap. They have been heard together and would be disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) Brief facts are as under:-

(3.) On behalf of respondent No. 9 - The Maharashtra Krushna Valley Development Corporation, Mr. Digambar Mahadeo Dubal, the Executive Engineer of Nira Deoghar Project Division, Sangvi (Bhatghar), Tal. Bhor, Dist. Pune has filed a detailed affidavit in reply dated 7.3.2018 and denied the allegations made in the petition particularly that the changes in the irrigation project were made at the instance of respondent No. 10 - Ministry of State for Irrigation Department. It is pointed out that administrative approval for the said irrigation project was given on 16.10.1993. It was revised in the year 2002 during which the area to be benefited by the irrigation was increased from 15000 hectares to 16500 hectares. Second revision was necessary to increase the area under irrigation from 16500 hectares to 21392 hectares. The Government, therefore, resolved that the proposal be first scrutinized by SLTAC. The SLTAC took into account various issues such as water availability, crop pattern, environmental clearance, CWC clearance, status of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement of project affected persons, execution status of various components of the project, expenditure incurred and the funds required to complete the balance work etc. The SLTCA submitted its report dated 21.7.2017. It is further pointed out that the crop pattern has to be approved by the Directorate of Agriculture. The Government has adopted a policy of supplying water through closed pipes in order to decrease the loss of water due to evaporation and thereby increase field application efficiency from 75% to 95%. Taking into account all these aspects, the Directorate of Agriculture granted approval to the revised crop pattern under letter dated 29.3.2017 which is also part of the report of SLTAC-II.