JUDGMENT 1. (Oral) - The grievance of the petitioners in this petition is that the instrumentalities of the State are digging wells and tube-wells in the village Surawa with the result that the ground water level has gone down, which is causing problem to the villagers. 2. The petitioners seek a direction to the respondents to the effect that they should stop exploiting water from Surawa and make arrangements for re-charging the ground water so that its level may rise. 3. A return has been filed by the State. In the return it is stated that in the area in question ground water is available at meters. According to the respondent State. fourteen tube-wells have been dug in the area, out of which 11 tube-wells are presently working. The tube-wells were dug keeping in view the recommendations of the Superintending Hydro-geologist. According to the opinion of the Superintending Hydro-geologist the construction of the tube-wells in the village has not contributed to any abnormal decrease in the ground water level. This fact shows that the ground water is being recharged. The reply of the respondent State alludes to the fact that as many as 44,500 people will be getting safe and potable water during the summer of the year 2003 because of the digging of tube-wells at a cost of Rs. 500 lacs. 4. In the writ petition it is averred that village Surawa has 3,850 families who are dependent on agriculture. According to the petitioner, the life of the villagers is at stake and the whole of the area is going to suffer due to the paucity of water. The stand of the petitioners that the area would suffer due to paucity of water due to installation of the tube-wells has been traversed by the respondent State in its reply. As already pointed out in the reply, the ground water for the last 10 years has not receded inspite of the digging of the tube-wells. It needs to be noticed that 45000 people are being benefited by the supply or water from the tube-wells which have been dug by the respondent State. Therefore, the work executed by the respondents is in is public interest and collective good of the people and no fault can be found with it. 5. In the circumstances, the writ petition fails and is hereby dismissed.Writ Petition Dismissed. *******