SHANKRAPPA AMBALI Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned advocate Mr. Sanket Shankrappa Ambali for the petitioner, learned Additional Government Advocate Smt. Niloufer Akbar for respondent Nos.1 to 4 and learned advocate Mr. B.R. Prashanth for respondent No.5.

(2.) The present public interest petition is filed by the petitioner who claims to be a farmer by occupation as also the State President of the Karnataka Rait Sene which is a registered society of farmers. It is claimed that the petitioner fights for the farmers' rights.

(3.) The case pleaded by the petitioner is inter alia that Renuka Sagar Dam constructed across the river Malaprabha at Munolli Village, Savadatti Taluka of Belagavi District forms the Naviluteertha Reservoir. It was a project proposed by the Government of Bombay in the Second Five Year Plan of the State to provide irrigation facilities to three districts namely, Bijapur, Belgaum and Dharwad. The project was given administrative sanction by the State of Mysore on 27/28/11/1961, it was stated, after getting clearance from the Central Water and Power Commission.