Interim ban on use of Thamirabarani water by MNCs

Petitioner, Prabakar, an environmental activist from Tirunelveli, in his plea claimed that there were about 20 integrated drinking water projects in Tirunelveli district where 12 crore litres of water was being supplied by TWAD Board for the residents and for Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts TWAD board is supplying 10 crore litres of water from the Tamirabarani river. Apart from that more than 5 crore litres of water was being supplied for industrial purposes in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. But the SIPCOT has allowed soft drinks companies to draw 24 lakh litres of water at the rate of Rs 37.50 for 1,000 litres, he stated. Due to the supply of large quantities of water to the soft drink companies, farmers in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts were affected, the petitioner contended. 

The people of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts were facing drinking water shortage due to the supply to these firms, he added. Apart from this, Gangaikondan, where one of the plants was located has a wildlife sanctuary. Owing to the company’s exploitation of water there has been severe drought in the area and other parts of Tirunelveli district, the petitioner said. Hence he asked the High Court to ban the use of Tamirabarani water by the private companies. Following arguments, the High Court issued interim ban on utilising Tamirabarani water by the MNCs and also other companies manufacturing packaged drinking water.