New Delhi, Sept 22: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday reserved its order on a plea by environmentalist K N Somasekhar, challenging the legality of the Karnataka government’s Yetttinahole project on utilising 24 tmcft of water from Netravati river to meet the drinking water needs of the parched districts in central Karnataka.
The bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim wrapped up the hearing after conclusion of arguments by the state government counsel as well as that of the petitioner.
Senior advocate Ashok Devaraj, representing the state government, submitted that the drinking water project, meant
for drought-hit Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru districts, was not required to be cleared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. He said people in the three districts suffered due to
excessive content of fluoride in groundwater, affecting the health of the citizens.
The project would also utilise the water for filling up 527 tanks during the rainy season to help farmers of the region for irrigation, he said.
Appearing for Somasekhar, advocate Ritwik Dutta said the project is illegal for not having been granted environmental clearance.
The Central Water Commission has already concluded that the project comes under the Western Ghats region, an eco-sensitive zone.
It would be difficult to fetch 24 tmcft of water from the river, running through the region, he contended.
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