The Hindu : Citizens forum files intervention plea in SC

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 22, 2002

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Citizens forum files intervention plea in SC

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI Sept. 21. The Bangalore Citizens Forum has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking intervention in the suit filed by the Tamil Nadu Government to direct Karnataka to implement the interim award of the Cauvery Tribunal. It is expected to be taken up for hearing on Monday along with Tamil Nadu's application.

In its petition, the forum has said that it was vitally interested in the outcome of the present proceedings.

The Bangalore city, with a population of about 65 lakhs, required about 1.2 tmc ft of water every month, if water was to be released every alternate day.

For the next eight months, keeping in mind the existing supply of water which was only twice a week, a minimum of 8 tmc ft of water was required from the Kabini reservoir and its storage now was only 5.70 tmc ft.

Further water disputes between the States was a subject matter of adjudication before the Tribunal and one of the issues pertained to sharing of distress in the event of shortfall of monsoon.

Therefore, the petition said that the apex court would not have the jurisdiction to deal with the water dispute, sought to be raised by Tamil Nadu, and there was no question of passing any interim direction to Karnataka to release water.

If Karnataka was directed to release additional water, apart from the directions of CRA, the citizens of Bangalore would be severely prejudiced and would receive water only once in 15 days, the petition said, and prayed for allowing the forum to intervene in the matter.

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