Police foil bid by TN political parties to inspect check dam in Kerala

Party workers said that they were against the Kerala government’s move to construct the check dams across Bhavani River without consulting the Tamil Nadu government. Members from DMK, MDMK, Congress, VCK, SDPI, TPDK as well as Vivasayigal Sangam were part of the agitation. 

“Already two check dams built at Manjakandi and Thekuvattai have reduced the inflow of water into Tamil Nadu. Now Kerala is building a third check dam at Sholaiyur near Attapadi. And even now, the state government has failed to prevent Kerala from constructing the dam,” said TPDK general secretary Ku Ramakrishnan. 

At an all-party meeting held on March 3, parties decided to inspect the construction of the third check dam to inspect if it was reducing the flow of water to Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the party members set out in their vehicles but were stopped at Anaikatty, near the border. 

A large posse of police deployed at the spot, barricaded the stretch and prevented the party members from entering Kerala as it may escalate tension and cause law and order problem. The party members then resorted to a dharna on the road. 

Following this, the police moved them to a marriage hall and let them off later.