Strongly objecting to the construction of a check dam across Kusa – a sub-tributary of the inter-state river Kosasthalaiyar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has written to his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh, urging him to stop the construction activities at once.
In his letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Mr. Palaniswami termed the construction of a check dam across Kusa as a unilateral action by the officials of the neighbouring State, observing that it had caused great alarm and apprehension among farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Stating that the construction activities were in progress at Nelavayl village of Karvet Nagar Mandal in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, and that Kusa supported an ayacut of about 354.32 acre fed by the Veligaram tank in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Palaniswami contended that “any intervention in the flow to this tank is of great concern to the farmers who depend on the water of this tank.”
Prior consent
The Andhra Pradesh government “should have consulted and obtained prior consent” from Tamil Nadu before commencing any new work across Kusa or in any stream or channel, Mr. Palaniswami said, adding that the action of the A.P. authorities would “affect the natural flow” in the stream and obstruct the flow to the Veligaram tank in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Palaniswami urged the A.P. Chief Minister to intervene and stop the construction activities across Kusa and also along other sub–tributaries of Kosasthalaiyar, and insisted that complete details of the check dam under construction be furnished.
