Friday, April 21 2006 13:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Apr 21, 2006) issued notice to Gujarat Government on a petition seeking implementation of the Narmada tribunal award and giving dueshare of water to the drought-prone Kutchch region of the state.

The notice was issued by a Bench of Justice Ruma Pal, Justice C K Thakker and Justice Markandey Katju which asked the Gujarat Government to respond to the petition filed by Kachchh Jal Sankat Nivaran Samiti and others challenging a Gujarat High Court order dismissing their plea on the issue.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel Harish Salve submitted that the Gujarat government had not implemented the award of the Narmada tribunal in letter and spirit.

He said under the award, the three regions of the state-north Gujarat, south Gujarat and Kutchchwere supposed to receive water from the Sardar Sarovar dam in a particular proportion/manner.

However, the Kutchh region, which was in the forefront of the movement for raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam, was not receiving its due share of water in terms of the award of the tribunal.

Salve submitted the High Court dismissed the petition taking into consideration 'irrelevant facts' and did not consider the tribunal's award.

He also sought a direction to the Gujarat Government to spell out the criteria for distribution of water from the Sardar Sarovar dam between the three regions of the state.

He also pointed out that the Gujarat Government had not disclosed the water distribution criteria in its two affidavits filed in the High Court which had dismissed the petition of the Samiti.