Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Despite 95% of the work being completed, Beed city’s Rs 114.6-crore Amrut water supply scheme remains stalled due to unpaid MSEDCL dues of Rs 59.7 crore and the non-sanction of additional power load, prompting a contempt petition in the Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court against the Centre, state govt, district collector, municipal council and the power utility.
On Aug 6, 2024, HC observed that no progress had been made since its June order. Saleem has alleged that the authorities have disregarded directions aimed at restoring power supply to key water installations for more than 26 months, leaving lakhs of residents vulnerable to worsening water scarcity. Beed city currently receives water once in around 15 days and the situation will worsen as drought intensifies,” he said.
NCP group leader in the municipal council Farooq Ali Patel said efforts would be renewed to settle MSEDCL dues with the help of guardian minister Sunetra Pawar after the model code linked to the Aurangabad Graduate Constituency election is lifted. It directed the Beed municipal council to launch a special tax recovery drive, submit five-year financial data and audit reports, file an affidavit through its chief executive officer with fortnightly recovery charts, and explore diversion of funds to clear electricity charges. “Dirty politics has made the new water supply scheme a non-starter.
During the PIL hearing, HC, on May 17, 2024, directed the additional secretary of the Urban Development Department to convene a meeting on the mounting arrears. On June 11, 2024, after noting electricity dues of Rs 36 crore, the court directed the additional chief secretary (urban development) to hold a joint meeting with the collector and MSEDCL. The court expected state govt to clear part of the dues and asked Centre to consider Jal Jeevan Mission funds for the project.