Orissa High Court has allowed Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to draw water from Mahanadi River for its proposed oil refinery at Paradeep.
The division bench headed by Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda in a verdict delivered yesterday said the public sector unit could avail river water through its under-constructed intake well for Paradeep project after fulfilling certain conditions.
The HC has asked IOC to draw river water after dredging the stretch of the riverbed from Naraj to Jobra, which is around 6 to 6.5 km and utilising the removed sand in strengthening Ring Road surrounding Cuttack city.
The PSU also in its own cost shall demolish the old anicut at Jobra and set up a water treatment plant in Cuttack to meet the drinking water requirement of the city people.
"We are evaluating the outcome of the verdict and if need arises we would take further course of action," said petitioner advocate Nishikant Mishra refusing to state whether they would challenge it in Supreme Court.
