Committee to solve the dispute between ONGC and CIDCO: SC

New Delhi July 21 (UNI) The Supreme Court has directed the central government and Maharashtra to form a committee to resovle the dispute between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO).

The committee would comprise Union Cabinet Secretary, Maharashtra Chief Secretary and Secretaries of the concerned departments of the centre and the state.The dispute was mainly regarding the allotment and position of 24 hectares of land to ONGC at Bhandkhal (Navghar), taluka Uran along with an approach road and water supply upto the boundary of the plot.

ONGC in its appeal has sought directions from the Supreme Court to CIDCO to hand over the position of the land alloted to ONGC vide a letter dated March 5,1984. The Bombay high court had dissmised the ONGC's petition holding that issues related to contractual matters and the writ petition would not be an appropriate remedy.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta in judgement dated July 20 layed stress on resolution of the dispute between the two state entities, through mutual discussion and dialogues the court noted ''the matter is pending since 1990.

Considering the nature of the controversy which is a recurring feature we direct that a committee be formed to sought out the differences between the centarl govt and the state govt entities.

As the matter is pending since long we direct that the committee shall be constituted forth with to take a decision within 4 months from the date of reciept of a copy of the judgement.'' UNI