HEMENDRA PRATAP DEHATI Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The State of Jharkhand, Central Water Commission and the petitioner have submitted the list of the proposed persons for nomination as Members of the High Power Committee to be constituted for suggesting a concrete plan on the proposal of taping water from Kanhar river for the purpose of providing irrigation facility and drinking water to one of the severely drought affected areas of the country. According to a report, the area has been a chronic sufferer from famine, drought and scarcity conditions. It was hit by drought and famine eight times in twelve years, causing death of large number of persons and cattle. The people had ray of hope after the independence, but nothing concrete has been done to provide perennial irrigation facilities and drinking water supply even after passage of more than six decades. The sources reveal that about twenty thousand acres of land of Palamu Division, where livelihood of the most of the people is cultivation, is unirrigated. The State Government, in its endeavour, had conceived a plan to construct a dam on the Kanhar river long back in 1974. Special Division for the purpose was constituted in the year 1974 and an office was established at Garhwa. It has been reported that Rs. 75 Crores has been spent on getting project report etc. but nothing concrete has been done so far.

(2.) Considering the said facts, this Court had asked the State Government, Central Water Commission and the petitioner to suggest names of the persons for the purpose of constituting a Committee to prepare a feasible plan/project to tap water of Kanhar river for the purpose of providing irrigation facilities/drinking water to the people of that part of the Palamau Division.

(3.) The parties separately suggested the names of the members for constituting a High Power Committee. However, they have agreed on the names which are mentioned hereinafter. Accordingly, a High Power Committee to be headed by a retired Judge of this Court is constituted of the following officials/expert advisers of the field with the consent of the parties:--