JUDGMENT :

Markandey Katju, J.

I have perused the judgment of my learned brother Hon'ble Altamas Kabir, J. in this case and I entirely agree with the reasoning, the conclusion and the directions which have been given therein. However, I wish to add a few words of my own.

2. The English poet Coleridge in his poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 'wrote :-

"Water, Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink"

3. This is precisely the situation of the people living in large parts of India. Despite having immense reservoirs of water in the form of the Himalayas in the North and the Arabian sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal in the West, South and East of India, there are water shortages everywhere often leading to riots, road blocks and other disturbances and disputes for getting water. In many cities, in many colonies people get water for half an hour in a day, and sometimes not even that e.g. in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, U.P., Northeast, etc.. In large parts of rural areas there is shortage of water for irrigation and drinking purpose. Rivers in India are drying up, ground water is being rapidly depleted, and canals are polluted. The Yamuna in Delhi looks like a black drain. Several