Kerala won’t block water to Tamil Nadu, says Oommen Chandy

Chandy claimed that Kerala is ready to provide water to Tamil Nadu and has been doing so from the Mullaiperiyar Dam. When asked about the check dams the Kerala Government was building across Bhavani River, he said that he is not ready to talk on particular issues as the present Kerala government is dealing with it. “We know the importance of water. If any problem arises over sharing river water, both the States will resolve the issue by conducting talks,” he added.

As many as 535 persons from various political parties and organizations were arrested when they tried to enter Kerala and picket the site where the construction of a check dam is underway at Tekkuvattai near Palakkad on Sunday. 

The protest was held to condemn the Government of Kerala for constructing the 12 feet tall check dam that will affect drinking water supply and irrigation in Western Tamil Nadu. Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TPDK) general secretary K. Ramakrishnan led the protest close to the border at Anaikatti. He told reporters that Kerala is preparing to construct five more check dams at Padavayal, Manjukandy, Keerakavadu, Saalayur and Saavadiyur across the river. 

He said that Tamil Nadu has been giving water beyond the agreed quantity to Kerala through Aliyar and Pandiyar Punnampuzha. “But Kerala is purposely building the check dams to pick up a quarrel with Tamil Nadu. After the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu wrote to the Prime Minister to stop construction of the check dam, Kerala has quickened the construction. Bhavani originating in The Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) flows back into our State. Kerala has no right to stop it,” he said. 

Ramakrishnan threatened that they will stop supply of essential commodities including milk and vegetables to Kerala through Coimbatore, Tirupur and The Nilgiris if construction of the check dams is not immediately stopped. “We will meet the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of the opposition in a couple of days to put pressure on Kerala to stop the project,” he added. 

Former minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) who took part in the protest said that DMK working president MK Stalin will soon lead a protest at the border if Kerala did not give up the check dam projects. “The Tamil Nadu Government should get help from the Centre to stop the constructing of the check dams,” he added.

Arrested: After staging a protest the protesters including a few women tried to cross the border at Anaikatti and enter Kerala. The Coimbatore district police tried to stop them, resulting in a mild push and pull. The protesters were then arrested. The Kerala police were also stationed on the other side of the border.

Appreciating Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for his efforts in passing the jallikattu ordinance and over Krishna river water issue, Congress leader E V K S Elangovan asked him to take steps for halting building of check dams across Bhavani river by Kerala.

Addressing a press meet here, he praised the Chief Minister for the efforts taken for conduct of jallikattu and for meeting Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu to get Krishna water to Tamil Nadu. 

“In a similar manner, Panneerselvam should lead a delegation of officials and representatives of political parties to meet Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and stop construction of check dams across River Bhavani,” he said. 

Thanking the students and others for protesting in support of jallikattu in a peaceful manner, Elangovan, former TNCC president, condemned the police action against protesters. 

He urged the Tamil Nadu government to constitute a judicial enquiry commission headed by a retired or current Supreme Court judge to probe into the violent incidents. Such an inquiry was necessary to ascertain whether anti-socials and mischief mongers had infiltrated the crowds at the Marina Beach in Chennai, as claimed by the state government and police, he said. 

On reported seating of Panneerselvam along with other party MLAs at a meeting chaired by AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala, he said “It is totally an insult and disrespect shown to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.” 

Though it was an inner-party meeting, the AIADMK chief should respect the Chief Minister by providing a seat adjacent to her in the podium, he added. Charing that the BJP manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh elections mentioned support of some castes and communities, he wanted the Election Commission to bar the party from contesting in the forth coming polls.