While NEERI's report stated that some of the samples of water showed contamination and a high salt content, the petitioners said they needed detailed answers on certain questions as well as a clear opinion of the NEERI experts on the existing conditions.

Agreeing to the request, the Bombay High Court ordered NEERI to shed light on the queries presented by them.

The division bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice S H Kapadia however said the petitioners Veldur Anjanvel Ranvir Vidyut Prakalp, Lok Hakk Samiti and others would have to bear the cost of the second report.The DPP will use natural gas in the first phase of its commissioning and hasa present installed capacity of 740 MW.

The matter that came up for hearing referred to a public interest litigation that alleged the drinking water sources as well as the livelihood of fishermen in the area were endangered due to water pollution caused by the DPP.

NEERI was directed by an order of the Bombay High Court in March to ``study the contamination of drinking water sources, ground water and the Veldur river and inspect the plant of DPC and submit a report''. The report submitted to the Bombay High Court on June 9 stated that a majority of the samples of water were contaminated with either faecal matter or had a high salt content. Of the nine samples studied by NEERI, five were found contaminated or polluted. NEERI also submitted that the days their officials were at the DPC plant to collect samples, the cooling tower was not in operation.

According to the NEERI experts, however, the extent of contamination could be confirmed only through ``tracer studies'' wherein the effect of befouling ofthe cooling tower and the effect of the blowdown water (sea water used to cool the tower and wash down the accumulated salt) on the ground water and sea marine life could be ascertained. An in-depth study of the bio environment in the sea was also necessary for ``any conclusive remarks on the potential risk of pollution''.

In the same vein, NEERI also stated that all the sources of raw water were fit for drinking though with ``proper chlorination/ disinfection''. Chlorination, it has been recommended, should be practised regularly. A high percentage of salt and chlorine was found in the water samples from springs of Bagmohalla and Gondhalwadi as compared to the other sources.

The petitioners want NEERI to clarify whether it could take up the tracer studies for the confirmation of the extent and source of contamination. More importantly, the petitioners have sought to know from NEERI's experts if any damage has been caused and what would be the situation if an improper disposal of the cooling towerblowdown was implemented when the entire plant with a capacity of 2140 MW was commissioned.

But only the Gondhalwadi source showed total and bacteriological coliform, the result of pollution due to human activity.

While an evaluation of the sewage treatment plants indicated that the treated effluent could be used for gardening and irrigation purposes, waste water from the Pioneer camp could not be discharged into the natural water sources, NEERI held.