This Article is From Mar 06, 2012

Kerala to file review petition on river-linking if needed

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government said if necessary the state would file a review petition inthe Supreme Court against its order on river linking project.

Though the legal advice to the government on the matter was that the Supreme Court order was "not applicable" to Kerala,the government would consult with legal experts again and file a review petition, if necessary, Chief Minister Oommen Chandysaid.

Chandy also made it clear that the state had opposed the project from the initial stage as it was detrimental to theinterests of Kerala.

CPI-M led LDF Opposition had also opposed the Supreme Court directive to the Centre to implement the river-linking projectholding that such a scheme was harmfull to the state.

Replying to a submission moved by K Sivadasan Nair (Cong) on the issue in the assembly, Chandy said the Supreme Courtverdict was relevant only to those states that had agreed for river-linking scheme.

"We had opposed the idea of river linking from the beginning itself and so the court order will not have any bearing onthe state", Chandy said.

The LDF had also opposed the project stating that if the proposal was carried out, it would seriously affectagriculture in Kuttanad area and sound the death-knell for Vembanad lake.

The LDF further wanted the government to explore the possibility of filing a review petition before the SupremeCourt on the matter and requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene on the issue.

Studies by national and international experts on river-linking in Kerala had clearly stated that it wouldamount to "killing" the state.
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