HC asks Tata Power, state govt to explain water diversion
The high court has asked the state government to file an affidavit before July 18, explaining why Tata Power is allowed to divert water from the drought-hit regions around Bhima basin to the Konkan basin, which has surplus resources. The court issued the orders while hearing a PIL filed by social activist Sanjay Lakhe Patil.
In a previous hearing on May 24, the court had asked the state government to consider the diversion to the Bhima basin, so that it could provide water for drinking as well as irrigation purposes to drought-hit districts such as Pune, Solapur, Osmanabad and other districts along the Bhima River.
Tata Power generates 447 mW of hydropower from its six dams, which is supplied to Mumbai.
“After generating power in the turbines, water from the upper reservoirs is let into the tailrace (channel leading out of the turbine) and then into downstream rivers, such as Ulhas, Patalganga and Kundalika,” said Tata Power, in an earlier statement. “The people along the banks of these rivers meet their drinking, irrigation and industrial water requirements: parts of Ulhasnagar, Badlapur, villages along the Patalganga River, Lonavla, Kusgaon Budruk and Karla villages meet their drinking requirements; Karjat, Kolad, Roha, Mulshi and Paud meet their irrigation needs; and Patalganga, Rasayani, Roha and Badlapur - their industrial requirements.”
In a previous hearing on May 24, the court had asked the state government to consider the diversion to the Bhima basin, so that it could provide water for drinking as well as irrigation purposes to drought-hit districts such as Pune, Solapur, Osmanabad and other districts along the Bhima River.
Tata Power generates 447 mW of hydropower from its six dams, which is supplied to Mumbai.
Speaking to Mirror, Jalna-based Patil said, “The combined volume of the six dams is around 50 thousand million cubic (TMC) metres and this water belongs to Bhima basin, but after using it for the generation of hydroelectricity, Tata Power diverts it to the Konkan basin.” A division bench, consisting of Justices VM Kanade and MS Sonak heard the petition.
“After generating power in the turbines, water from the upper reservoirs is let into the tailrace (channel leading out of the turbine) and then into downstream rivers, such as Ulhas, Patalganga and Kundalika,” said Tata Power, in an earlier statement. “The people along the banks of these rivers meet their drinking, irrigation and industrial water requirements: parts of Ulhasnagar, Badlapur, villages along the Patalganga River, Lonavla, Kusgaon Budruk and Karla villages meet their drinking requirements; Karjat, Kolad, Roha, Mulshi and Paud meet their irrigation needs; and Patalganga, Rasayani, Roha and Badlapur - their industrial requirements.”
