Kerala''s assurance to HC

Jays Jacob
30 June 2003

Kochi: The Kerala High Court was informed that no further action will be taken by the Kerala state government with regard to the Rs 1,787-crore Japan Banking International Cooperation-aided drinking water project in the state until the disposal of a public interest litigation (PIL) against the project.

An undertaking in this regard was given by Advocate General M Ratna Singh and standing counsel of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) before the high court.

The undertaking was recorded by the bench, comprising Chief Justice J L Gupta and Justice A K Basheer, when the PIL by M Manoj Kumar of Paravoor, Kollam, challenging the appointment of the consultants came up before them.

The PIL sought a declaration that the selection of Tokyo Engineering Consultants of Japan as consultants for the project was in total violation of the guidelines and a result of "irrelevant" considerations.

The petitioner also wanted the court to stay all proceedings pursuant to the agreement entered between KWA and the consultants.