Subject: Indian NGO files PIL over privatisation of river
Indian NGO files PIL over privatisation of river
Bilaspur: Forum for Fact-finding Documentation and Advocacy (FFDA), an NGO from Raipur has filed a Public interest Litigation (PIL) in the Chhattisgarh High Court challenging the privatisation of river Shivnath.
It may be recalled that the Madhya Pradesh government had sold a 14 KM patch of river Shivnath to Radius Water Limited on October 5 1998. The company sells water to thirty industrial units. According to the petitioner, the agreement between Radius Water Limited and the State of MP was contrary to the Central Government's Water Policy.
The company has monopolized a large portion of the river and it does not possess any documents to prove their, exclusive right over use of water.
The petitioner further contended that due to monoplisation of alarge stretch of the river, the fishermen who solely depend on the river have no means of livelihood. The company neither allows the villagers to use water for irrigation nor permit them to take water for their day to day use.
The petitioner Fact-finding, Documentation and Advocacy (FFDA) has sought Court's directives to quash the agreement between the state of MP and Radius Water Limited as it is violation of Articles 21,47, 48 9a) and 51 (a) of the Constitution of India.
The petitioner has also sought Court's directives to the respondent authorities tp allows the villagers to use water of the river for their day to day requirements as an interim measures.The Chhattisgarh-Net group
