Tamil Nadu has again violated the inter-State Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) agreement by illegally constructing a check-dam and well in the Chitturpuzha at Ambrampalayam without obtaining permission from Kerala as envisaged in the agreement.
Kerala officials of the Joint Water Regulatory Board (JWRB) inspected the area on Friday and directed Tamil Nadu officials to remove the temporary check-dam the people on the banks of the river claimed to have constructed.
This had stopped the flow of water to the Chitturpuzha affecting more than a dozen drinking water schemes, the officials here said.
They pointed out that when Tamil Nadu released 100 cusecs of water from the Aliyar dam to the Chitturpuzha, only around 30 cusecs reached Kerala because of the diversion of water through unauthorised pumping and by constructing temporary check-dams.
Just two km downstream of the Ambrampalayam check-dam, Tamil Nadu is constructing a project to supply drinking water to Kuniyamputhur in Coimbatore city. All these projects were taken up by Tamil Nadu without seeking permission from Kerala as per the agreement, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the JWRB officials requested Tamil Nadu to release 100 cusecs of water from March 15 to May 15 to supply drinking water in the district. The officials said the violation of the agreement was being taken up by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with the Tamil Nadu government.
