Madurai: In the wake of Madras High Court division bench here dismissing two PILs against supply of Thamirabarani river water to co-packers of Pepsi and Coco Cola, a social activist filed a fresh PIL seeking to direct the state government not to supply water from the river to any of the industrial units functioning in the SIPCOT complex at Gangaikondan village in Tirunelveli.

The petitioner, CM Ragavan, district convener of Aam Aadmi Party from Tirunelveli district, also condemned the district collector's justification for supply of the river water to the industries citing the order passed by this court on March 9. The petitioner argued that a close reading of the court order would show that the writ petition was dismissed only on the ground of maintainability because the petitioner DA Prabakar, secretary of the Tirunelveli District Consumer Protection Association, had approached this court with mala fide intention behind old enmity, on which the court made an observation in its order.

Citing various apex court orders, the petition argued that the natural resources such as river, forest and minerals should be used to meet the requirements of the people and not to serve the interest of corporate companies.

The perennial river Thamirabarani has been serving drinking water purposes and agricultural needs of farmers in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and neighbouring Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts. Nearly 12.5 crore litres of water was being taken by the government for drinking water purposes in Tirunelveli; and 10 crore litres for Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram, he pointed out.

However, without considering the water needs of people, the district collector and other government authorities have granted permission to 25 companies including co-packers of Pepsi and Coco Cola to drain 5 crores litres of water from the river, said the petitioner. Moreover, the State Water Resources Management Agency (WRCRC) didn't grant approval for supply water to these companies. "As per government order, any agreement between government agencies involving the use of water for domestic and municipal water supply, irrigation , hydropower production, industrial or commercial uses etc. must be subjected to review and approval of WRCRC," the petitioner pointed out.

This apart, the state government had declared Gangaikondan as a national sanctuary for the protection of spotted deer. As the 25 companies functioning in SIPCOT were situated within four km radius of the park, allowing them to function in the place would endanger the protected species, he said.
The petitioner also stated that the water policy and action plan for India 2020 guidelines issued by the Central government clearly stated that high priority should be given to drinking and domestic use, sustainable
livelihoods and sustaining environment, maintaining the river system and aquatic life. Hence he is requesting the court to stop the supply of river water to the companies and also to direct the authorities to discharge the water to Mannar Taluk through Mathi Kittanna channel.

After examining the petition, the division bench comprising Justices A.Selvam and N.Authinathan transferred the case to another bench. The earlier court order in the case was passed by the division bench headed by Justice A.Selvam.