V.K.Venkatachalam, v. District Collector,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29.01.2018 CORAM :

The Hon'ble Ms.INDIRA BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE AND The Hon'ble Mr.JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE W.P. No.1582 of 2018 V.K.Venkatachalam .. Petitioner -vs1.District Collector, Erode District, Erode.

2.Chief Engineer, Water Resource Department, Coimbatore Region, Coimbatore.

3.Superintending Engineer, Water Resource Department, Bhavani Basin Circle, Erode.

4.Executive Engineer, Water Resource Department, Lower Bhavani Basin Division, Erode.

.. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issue of Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to consider the repeated representations of the villagers given on 29.12.2017 and consequently direct the respondents to direct the waters from the Lower Bhavani Project canals, to serve the urgent drinking water needs of the twenty villages surrounding the Odathurai Tank.

For Petitioner :

Mr.V.Balamurugane For Respondents :

Mr.T.N.Rajagopalan Govt. Pleader (In-charge)

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition has been filed seeking directions on the respondents to release water from the Lower Bhavani Project to Odathurai tank to meet the requirements of drinking water of 20 villages, which, according to the petitioner, are dependent on Odathurai tank for sustenance.

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2.There can be no doubt that right to drinking water is a basic human right and arrangements for adequate drinking water have to be made for the concerned villages, whether it be by providing water to Odathurai tank or by setting up other means of supply of drinking water.

3.After hearing the respective parties, the writ petition is disposed of by directing respondent no.2 to treat this writ petition as representation of the petitioner and to jointly take a decision thereon within six (6) weeks from date. The decision shall be communicated to the petitioner within one (1) week from the date thereof. If the representation is disposed of favourably, no reasons need be given. However, if the decision is unfavourable to the petitioner, the decision shall be reasoned. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CCC ) //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar sra To 1.The District Collector, Erode District, Erode.

2.The Chief Engineer, Water Resource Department, Coimbatore Region, Coimbatore.

3.The Superintending Engineer, Water Resource Department, Bhavani Basin Circle, Erode.

4.The Executive Engineer, Water Resource Department, Lower Bhavani Basin Division, Erode.

+1cc to Mr.V.Balaurugan, Advocate SR.No.6413 +1cc to Government Pleader SR.No.6583 W.P.No.1582 of 2018 SKV(CO) GN(31/01/2018) https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/