The Punjab & Haryana High Court, noting the potential for the situation to escalate into an epidemic, has initiated suo moto proceedings concerning the alleged contamination of the drinking water supply with sewage in economically weaker section (EWS) colonies in Chandigarh.

The division bench consist of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal held that, "It appears that nobody is taking up responsibility of solving the emergent situation, which may lead to an epidemic, since once water supply to the said colonies is contaminated and is consumed, it may lead to wide-spread diseases."

The Court has directed the UT Chandigarh administration, which oversees the Chandigarh Housing Board, to take immediate action to address the issue and provide a compliance report by the next hearing date.

The Court took note of a newspaper article published in The Tribune on August 30, which reported that sewage is mixing with the drinking water supply in economically weaker section (EWS) colonies in Dhanas, Maloya, Ram Darbar, Vikas Nagar, as well as Sectors 56 and 38, within the town of Chandigarh.

According to the news item, "while occupants of these EWS colonies in Dhanas, Maloya, Ram Darbar, Vikas Nagar, and Sectors 56 and 38, have been paying ground rent/rent to the CHB, they continue to remain deprived of the basic facility of getting clean water in the “Smart City” of Chandigarh."

After hearing from the Senior Standing Counsel of UT Chandigarh and the counsel representing the Chandigarh Housing Board, the Court directed them to take necessary steps to resolve the issue and submit a compliance report by the next hearing date.

The matter is listed for September 04, for further consideration.

Title: Court on its own motion v. U.T. Chandigarh

Mr. Amit Jhanji, Senior Standing Counsel, UT Chandigarh, and Ms. Sukhmani Patwalia, Advocate.

Mr. G.S. Wasu, Advocate, for the Chandigarh Housing Board.