The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Meghalaya government to formulate a policy which should lay down a roadmap for those people residing in this State, who, till date, do not have any easy access to potable and arsenic free drinking water.
In an order passed today, the division bench of the High Court asked the State government to place the policy before the court on or before the next date of hearing slated for March 2.
It may be noted that on February 16, the High Court had asked for a detailed report from the State government regarding the exact number and names of those villages who, till date, do not have any access to potable and arsenic free drinking water.
The court said that the additional affidavit filed by the State Chief Secretary did not reveal any policy of the State government on this matter other than referring to Jal Jeevan Mission programme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which is basically a programme of the Government of India.
“It is quite evident that the State of Meghalaya does not have any scheme/policy of its own in order to ensure that every village in the State of Meghalaya is provided with easy access to potable and arsenic free drinking water,” the High Court said.