HAPU RAM VISHNOI Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY this petition for writ, the petitioner, a practicing advocate of this Court, has raised a very serious question relating to soil conservation, water harvesting and proper distribution of water in the Districts of Jalore and Barmer.

(2.) THE Districts of Jalore and Barmer are part of the Western Rajasthan, known for wide spread Thar Desert and its arid climate. In the major part of the arid zone the river Luni, originating from Aravali Hills near Pushkar in District Ajmer, was only the major source of water beside the abstraction of underground water. The river Luni in rainy season carries water and flows through the Districts of Pali, Jodhpur, Jalore and Barmer. The people of the Districts aforesaid were facing scarcity of water even for drinking purposes from ages. In independent India efforts were made and are being made to meet this scarcity. The largest project of the Government of Rajasthan in this regard is Indira Gandhi Canal Project providing water for drinking as well as irrigation purposes in the Districts of Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and some part of Jodhpur. For the canal aforesaid the source of water is river Satluj. The other ambitious project is to bring water of river Narmada to the Districts of Jalore and Barmer.

(3.) AS per the facts averred in the petition for writ the construction work of Narmada Canal commenced in the year 1993 with an estimated financial plan of Rs. 1975 crores. The work presently is in progress in Tehsils of Sanchore, Chitalwana and Gudamalani. The length of main canal is 74 kms. and the length of distributaries is 1719 kms. The canal is discharging about 1500 cusec water in the area concerned.