There is a legal bar now for the Public Works Department (PWD) to finalise the bids to draw 20 million litres of water per day from Ossudu lake. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Bench stopped the PWD following an application of Puducherry Environment Protection Association, represented by its Secretary K. Irisappan, Koodapakkam.
In an application before NGT, he said the association was aggrieved by the decision of the PWD to augment water supply for Puducherry by drawing 20 MLD or 7.3 MCM/ year from the Ossudu lake, which is a declared bird sanctuary. He also submitted that the PWD had even issued a tender for this project on September 8 and the same was to be opened on October1.
He contended that no studies have been conducted nor have any permissions been obtained. “In fact, no water can be ever drawn from the lake since it is a bird sanctuary and the respondent is illegally proceeding with an ill-advised proposal,” said Mr. Irisappan.
The association also said that the present proposal of the Puducherry Government is environmentally destructive and will not ensure equitable water availability to the people of Puduchery. The lake goes dry for three to four months a year and gets filled in during the northeast monsoon when migratory birds arrive.
The applicant submitted that it was not known how the authorities plan to draw 7.3 MCM of water and supply the same to the people of Puducherry when the lake itself becomes dry. The applicant said the authorities ought to have seen that the drinking water needs of Puducherry could be augmented by sustainable practices such as prevention of indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater, ensuring percolation of rainwater, rainwater harvesting and other such sustainable methods.
Passing an interim order, the Bench comprising its judicial member Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member G. Nagendran said the counsel for applicant had said permitting any activity concerning the withdrawal of water from Ossudu lake, including the awarding any contract for such works towards the withdrawal of water from the lake, is in violation of the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Biological diversity Act, 2002.
The Bench restrained the PWD from finalising the bids for the project until further orders.
