All the above three Original petitions are filed under Section 30 and 33 read with Section 31 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1940 and Order 43 Rules 1, 2, 6 and 7 of O.S. Rules to set aside the award dated 210. 1997 passed by the Arbitrator Mr. Justice S. Sivasubramanian (Retd.) in O.P.No.44, 45 and 46 of 1998 respectively and for costs.

2. As the parties are one and the same and the issue involved is also the same, a common order is being passed to dispense of the above petitions and the applications.

3. Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (hereinafter called as “Board) have filed O.P.No.77, 78 and 79 of 1999 to set aside the three awards dated 210. 1997 passed by the arbitrator.

4. For the sake of convenience, I am referring to the facts in O.P.No.77 of 1999 and it is admitted by both the parties that the issue involved is one and the same in all the three petitions and only the amounts vary with regard to the tender price, the awarded amount, etc.

5. The Government of Tamilnadu decided to execute Water Supply projects to three cities viz., Coimbatore, Madurai and Salem with a loan assistance of the World Bank. Though the project involved a number of