MDMK general secretary Vaiko has asked the Tamil Nadu government to convene an all-party meet to discuss the fallout of the raising of the height of the check dam constructed across the Palar in Pullur.
Addressing the media after visiting the dam on Saturday, he said increasing of the height of the check dam by the Andhra Pradesh government was a violation of the Madras-Mysore pact of 1892 and would affect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers. He also wanted the Chief Minister to hold talks with her Andhra Pradesh counterpart and take steps to meet the Prime Minister as well in this regard.
Mr. Vaiko also met the family of Srinivasan who drowned in the dam recently.
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Meanwhile, Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK’s youth wing leader, led a protest in Vellore against the Andhra Pradesh government.
He said the increase in the height of the check dam would affect irrigational and drinking water needs of Tamil Nadu. “Andhra Pradesh had not obtained clearance from the forest and environment ministries of the Union government and the consent of Tamil Nadu, a riparian State.
“Ms. Jayalalithaa should not stop with writing letters to the Prime Minister and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. She should expedite the case in Supreme Court, convene an all-party meeting and meet the Prime Minister.
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“The issue may deteriorate into law and order issue between two States,” he said.
“Tamil Nadu gets an average annual rainfall of 922 mm. This is sufficient for the State and rainwater should be saved with far-sightedness. As much as 31 tmc of water went to the sea during last monsoon. If we had check dams, the water could have been saved for irrigation. PMK is contemplating filing a case with regard to Palar,” he added.