Madras HC gives 6 weeks time on plea to release Bhavani water

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed authorities to take a decision within six weeks on a plea to release water from lower Bhavani project to Odathurai tank at Bhavani taluk in Erode district, to meet the requirements of drinking water of 20 villages.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose disposed of a public interest litigation from V.K. Venkatachallam, an agriculturist.    

The bench said this petition has been filed seeking directions on the authorities to release water from the lower Bhavani project to Odathurai tank to meet the requirements of drinking water of 20 villages, which according to the petitioner, are dependent on Odathurai tank for sustenance.

There can be no doubt that right to drinking water was a basic human right and arrangements for adequate drinking water have to be made for villages concerned, whether it be by providing water to Odaithurai tank, or by setting up other means of supply of drinking water, the bench added.

Directing the chief engineer, water resource department, Coimbatore, to treat this petition as a representation of the petitioner and to jointly take a decision thereon within six weeks, the bench said the decision shall be communicated to the petitioner within one week from the date thereof.

If the representation was disposed of favourably, no reasons need be given. However, if the decision was unfavourable, the decision shall be reasoned, the bench added.