Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051008830400.htm

Tamil Nadu

PMK moves Supreme Court on Palar issue

J. Venkatesan

Says Andhra Pradesh move violation of 1892 pact

NEW DELHI: The Pattali Makkal Katchi has moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to restrain the Andhra Pradesh Government from constructing a check dam across the Palar.

The writ petition, filed by PMK president G. K. Mani, stated that Andhra Pradesh had unilaterally taken steps to construct the check dam in violation of the 1892 agreement by which the rights of the riparian States were duly recognised.

It said the Andhra Pradesh Government planned to impound more than 2 tmcft of water in the dam and also divert it to other parts. This would impact the livelihood of lakhs of people, who were dependent on the Palar water in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu.

It said the Tamil Nadu Government had filed a suit to restrain Andhra Pradesh from proceeding with the construction. As the Andhra Pradesh Government had given an assurance that it would not proceed with the construction, Tamil Nadu did not press for an interim order. But, shocking the people of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh floated tenders for the dam work.

It said if Andhra Pradesh were allowed to proceed with the project, it would spell doom to the lakhs of people in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu. The Andhra Pradesh action was against the concept of federalism and national interest. It was going ahead with the project to defeat the rights of Tamil Nadu and make the suit infructuous. Hence the present writ petition.