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Don't go ahead with Veeranam project: PMK

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai Jan. 20. With the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, set to inaugurate the New Veeranam project in Cuddalore next month, the PMK leader, S. Ramadoss, urged the Government not to go ahead with the "financially and technologically unviable" scheme.

In a statement here, Dr. Ramadoss wondered how the Government could implement the scheme when a public interest litigation challenging the Rs. 720-crore project was pending before the Madras High Court.

"When issues pending in the courts are not discussed in the Assembly as a matter of parliamentary convention, how can the Government overlook the PIL before the Madras High Court," he asked. When Tamil Nadu was objecting to construction of a dam across the Bhavani river as it was linked to the Cauvery dispute pending before the Supreme Court, it should contemplate whether it was fair on its part to go ahead with the launch of the Veeranam project. Would it not undermine the Tamil Nadu stand on the Bhavani issue, he asked.

The Government claim that the Veeranam scheme would solve the drinking water problem of Tamil Nadu was "laughable," for, it would be spending Rs. 720 crores to provide 1 tmcft of water annually from the Veeranam tank which was dry for most part of the year. Instead, it could spend Rs. 650 crores and ensure completion of the Telugu Ganga project which would help Chennai get 12 tmcft of water every year.

"Even if the Government stubbornly went ahead with the Veeranam project, there is no guarantee that it will bring additional water to Chennai," he said.

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