: Political leaders have urged the State government to take steps to stop construction of six check dams across Bhavani river by the Kerala government, saying the neighbouring State’s move is against the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal.
In a statement here, DMK working president M.K. Stalin said Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam should meet his Kerala counterpart and prevail upon him to drop his government’s plan to construct the dams. “Already, farmers in the Cauvery delta region are going through hardship as they could not get Cauvery water. The check dams across Bhavani river will severely affect Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts,” he said.
‘State’s indifference’
PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss said the indifference of the State government had resulted in Andhra Pradesh constructing dams against Palar river and a similar attitude would deprive the Kongu region of water for drinking and irrigation purposes. “If a State plans to construct a check dam, it should obtain permission from the lower riparian State. The Kerala government, in the past, has sought to construct dams and gave up in the face of resistance from political parties and farmers’ associations,” he said.
