The Hindu : 'T.N. diverting Bhavani river water'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

'T.N. diverting Bhavani river water'

By Our Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD JAN. 20. The Kerala Government has collected evidence of six illegal diversions of Bhavani river water above the Attappady Hills flowing to Kerala, resulting in acute water shortage in the tribal belt.

The Tamil Nadu Government has allegedly diverted the waters of Vargar and Kodungarapallam to the Kuntha hydel-cum-irrigation project, making both the rivers dry, creating acute water shortage in Attappady Valley.

When the Bhavani water dispute is before the Cauvery Tribunal Tamil Nadu has constructed three projects — Upper Bhavani, East Vargarpallam and West Bhavani — despite opposition from Kerala. As per the riparian rights, 50 per cent of the yields of these rivers should come to Kerala.

But no water is flowing down these rivers to Kerala now, top officials of the Kerala Irrigation Department allege.

There is also reliable information about diversion of the Bhavani water six km above Mukkali where Kerala is constructing a weir to divert 0.718 tmcft water to the Kanjirapuzha basin. This is being opposed by Tamil Nadu.

But as per the agreement reached between Kerala and Tamil Nadu while diverting the Siruvani water for providing drinking water to Coimbatore, Kerala can use 2.5 tmcft of Bhavani water in lieu of the Siruvani water.

However, so far it has not drawn up any scheme to use it. The Attappady Valley Irrigation Scheme planned two decades ago to use Siruvani river water for drinking and irrigation water requirements of the Attappady Valley had also not been taken up by Kerala. Thus, the waters of Siruvani and Bhavani are flowing down to Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Water Resources Minister, T.M. Jacob, has said that Kerala will go ahead with the construction of the weir at Mukkali to divert 0.718 tmcft water from Bhavani to Mannarkkad for providing drinking water to 25,000 people and to irrigate 2000 hectares.

Addressing a press conference here today after an all-party meeting, the Minister said the meeting unanimously decided to construct six check dams below Mukkali to provide drinking water to Attappady.

The diversion of Bhavani at Mukkali would be only during monsoon months. It would not affect the flow of water to downstream Attappady and to Tamil Nadu. The Minister accused Tamil Nadu of not giving Kerala its due share of water from the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP). "It is taking away the entire waters of Mullaperiyar Dam from within the State. Kerala has given almost the entire Siruvani water for drinking water supply in Coimbatore. But violating the agreement Tamil Nadu is utilising the Siruvani water for irrigation and industrial purposes. Kerala is also giving the water of Neyyar Dam to Tamil Nadu. But the latter is illegally diverting huge quantities of Kerala waters and not giving it its due share under the PAP, Siruvani and other agreements.

He said the latest example of the Tamil Nadu move to divert Kerala water is from Pamba and Achankoil. For this they have proposed Pamba-Achankovil-Vaigai Link Project. Tamil Nadu has already constructed the Mekkara Dam at a cost of Rs.100 crores with an eye on the Kerala waters, he alleged.

He said the Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, had replied to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's letter last week regarding the construction of Mukkali weir expressing Kerala's willingness to discuss all inter-State water issues with Tamil Nadu.

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