Will move SC against Kerala on Bhavani check dam issue: OPS

Intervening, Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin, who was speaking on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, Panneerselvam said the state government will file a petition in the Supreme Court against the action of the Kerala government. 

When Stalin sought to know the steps being taken by the government, he said he had already written to the Prime Minister urging him to advise Kerala to stop the construction works. 

Panneerselvam, in his January 24 letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had registered the state government’s strong objection to the construction of check dams by Kerala on Bhavani. 

Since the matter was sub-judice before the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister also urged Modi to advise Kerala not to take up any project or works without getting the concurrence of the Tamil Nadu government and until the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) comes into force and judicial references were finally settled. 

He said any attempt to construct check dams across Bhavani River, without disclosing the details of schemes and obtaining the prior concurrence of the Tamil Nadu Government, violating the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, will affect the natural flow of the river and consequently diminish the flows to Tamil Nadu. 

"The Tamil Nadu Government conveys its strong objection to the construction of check dams by Kerala across the river Bhavani, without obtaining the prior concurrence of Tamil Nadu and in violation of the Final Order of the Tribunal", he added. 

Panneerselvam, in his letter, had said that there have been recent reports that the Kerala government plans to construct six check dams across Bhavani, a tributary of the river Cauvery. 

"These reports have caused great concern and anxiety among the people of Tamil Nadu dependent on waters of the Cauvery basin, including Bhavani, for irrigation and drinking water supply,” he added.