Date:05/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/05/stories/2007020508190100.htm

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We won't derail good ties with Tamil Nadu: Rajasekhara Reddy

T. Ramakrishnan

He promises a "favourable decision" on Palar checkdam issue

CHENNAI: Andhra Pradesh will not do anything that will harm the good neighbourly relations with Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has assured his counterpart M. Karunanidhi.

Disclosing this in a statement issued here on Sunday, Public Works Minister Durai Murugan said Mr. Karunanidhi wrote a letter to Dr. Reddy on Thursday following reports of Andhra Pradesh planning to build a checkdam across the Palar at Kuppam. He followed this up with a telephone call to Dr. Reddy on Saturday morning.

According to Mr. Murugan, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister conveyed to Mr. Karunanidhi that as expressed in his meeting with Ministers M.K. Stalin and K. Ponmudi (in August last), his Government would not take any step without consulting Tamil Nadu. Dr. Reddy also sought full details of the case (from his officials). Besides, he would announce a "favourable decision" shortly and write a detailed letter to Mr. Karunanidhi in a few days, Mr. Murugan said.

At Sattur, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss told presspersons that the State would not get "even a drop of water" if Andhra Pradesh was allowed to build a checkdam. He called for talks between the Chief Ministers to resolve the issue.

Though the issue made headlines about a year ago, it again surfaced last month when there were reports in a section of the media here that Andhra Pradesh was going to start work. When the issue came up in the Assembly during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, the Government assured the House that it would take steps to protect the State's interests. Ever since the issue resurfaced, the principal Opposition party, the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, has been criticising the DMK Government for having "failed" to handle the issue effectively.

On Wednesday last, citing an inspection report filed by officials of his department, Mr. Murugan said the neighbouring State did not seem to be making any move for building the dam. The next day, when PMK president G.K. Mani visited the site, where the check dam was said to be coming up, there was an argument between him and Andhra Pradesh officials.

He later said apparently, preparatory work had been carried out.