CHITTOOR: There was mild tension at Peddavanka village of Kuppam mandal on Sunday when activists of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, a political outfit in Tamil Nadu, tried to enter the Palar riverbed and raised slogans demanding that the check-dams reportedly built along the course of the river be demolished.
The river flowing from Karnataka passes through the Kuppam constituency in Andhra Pradesh for 32 km before entering Tamil Nadu.
The protesters from Vellore arrived at Thimmampeta in Tamil Nadu and raised slogans against the government of Andhra Pradesh for construction of the check-dams.
Carrying party flags, a few of them tried to enter Chittoor district. The Kuppam police, however, foiled their attempt. The Tamil Nadu police whisked them away. They were later released at Thimmampeta.
“People on both sides of the river have been leading a harmonious life. Some political parties are trying to hog the limelight by raking up the issue,” observed a few villagers of Peddavanka.
A few months before the elections in Tamil Nadu last year, leaders of various political parties in Tamil Nadu had staged protests on the border alleging that Andhra Pradesh had increased the height of the check-dams, affecting the interests of the farmers of that State.
However, AP irrigation officials had denied the allegations. Thereafter, the issue subsided.
