The High Court on Wednesday, in its order, said all work within the forest area should not commence until permission was granted from the Central government, along with forest clearance.
The High Court on Wednesday, in its order, said all work within the forest area should not commence until permission was granted from the Central government, along with forest clearance, with regard to the Upper Bhadra Project, in a Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction for the government to drop the Upper Bhadra irrigation project and provide water to Tarikere taluk in Chikkamagaluru district.
The division bench headed by the acting Chief Justice K Sreedhar Rao, observed, “A project of this type should not be taken up as it creates regional imbalance. If there is no water given to riparian in the vicinity, yet you are trying to take the water to a distant place like Kolar, such a design is not viable. How can you take water to such a long distance, why don’t you consider to give water to Kolar from Cauvery which is at a closer distance.There is a serious drinking water problem in and around Bhadra river , why not fulfill that need first. If there is excess water available, then give water to the surrounding areas of Bhadra dam which are in need of water.”
Advocate Jaina Kothari on behalf of petitioner argued that “ Such a huge project was started without forest clearance, as required under the Forest conservation Act as this project was going through reserve forests and Wild Life sanctuary.”
HS Neelakantappa filed a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court, with the farmers of the Tarikere in Chikkamagaluru district as the petitioners.
The petitioner contended that the Upper Bhadra irrigation project only facilitated water to Chitradurga, Tumkur, Kolar and deprived water to Tarikere and Kadur taluks in Chikkamagaluru district.
Neelakantappa contended that on 23 August 2003 the State government modified and enhanced the administration approval costs to Rs. 5985 crores. The petitioners said the administration approval given by the government was illegal and against the public purpose and deserves to be set aside.
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