HC notice to govt on PIL against supply of river water to

The Madras High Court today issued a notice to Tamil Nadu government on a petition seeking to forbear officials from supplying Tamirabarani river water to soft drink manufacturer Pepsico.
Justices V Ramasubramanian and N Kirubakaran issued the notice to the officials, including the Chief Secretary, the PWD Secretary and the Managing director of State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamilnadu (SIPCOT) on a petition by former MLA M Appavu to stop supply of water to Prathishta Business Solutions Pvt ltd (Pepsi Soft Drink Solution Pvt ltd.}
The judges sought officials' view within three weeks.
The petitioner submitted that 20 integrated drinking water projects are being undertaken in the river now to supply water to various places in Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts.

He said government was drawing 12.15 crore litres water from the river from Tiruneveli district alone for drinking water supply and 10 crore litres for residential purposes. Another five crore litres were drawn for industrial purpose.
It was against this background that 31.54 acres at SIPCOT had been leased to Prathista Business Solutions Pvt Ltd for a 99-year period at the rate of Rs 15 lakh per acre to set up a drinking water factory, he submitted.

It had been agreed that the government would sell the water at the rate of Rs 37.50 per 1,000 litres, he said.
Appavu said various organisations had already protested against it. In public interest, a factory should not be permitted for preparing soft drinks or drinking water, he said, adding this would affect local bodies during the summer.

There was already shortage of water. If water was given to SIPCOT and Prathista Business Solutions Private Ltd (Pepsi), it would cause untold hardship to farmers, he submitted.
Appavu said he had also sent representations to the officials to not allow water bottling plants in SIPCOT but there was no response from them.