Clean up the Musi, AP High Court tells government

Members of the Jalakshatriya Gangaputra Samaj performing 'Gangamma Talli' puja on the banks of the Musi at Puranapul on Thursday. The community members, mostly residing in Dhoolpet and Jiyaguda areas of the city perform the annual puja during Ashadam to propitiate the river goddess for prosperity and well being. — Photo: G. Ramakrishna

A Division Bench of A.P. High Court comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice G. Rohini directed the State government and all the departments to sit together and take decisions to protect the Musi river.

The authorities must take steps to see that the banks of Musi were free from encroachments and decide whether dredging should be undertaken or not.

The Bench felt that smooth flow of river stream should be restored and all the encroachments should be removed. It expressed concern over the encroachments on both sides of the river.

The court was dealing with a batch of cases filed regarding the encroachments and rights of people residing on both the sides of the river. The case was adjourned to July, 29 for submission of the report by the government.

State told to pay 8.87 cr. to HMWSSB

A Division Bench comprising Justice N. V. Ramana and Justice Vilas Afzulpurkar directed the State government to pay Rs. 8.87 crore to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board within 2 weeks. The Bench did not appreciate the attitude of various government departments in not clearing their dues to the water board.

The Bench was dealing with a PIL filed by Forum for Good Governance complaining that the authorities had not collected dues from government departments but were enhancing water rates in the name of loss incurred.

The Principal Secretary, MAUD, on an earlier occasion told the court that Rs. 27.34 crore was due to the board and Rs.8.86 crore had been paid.

The Bench said that the dues could be cleared within two weeks and adjourned the matter.