The word ‘water’ has ‘war’ in it. Proving this true is Tamilnadu’s disputes with its neighbours Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. If the Cauvery is the bone of contention between TN and Karnataka, Mullaiperiyar is the reason behind the conflict between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Lately, the Palar has become a cause for concern over the relationship between TN and Andhra Pradesh. Amid reports that AP was planning to construct 30 new check-dams across the Palar river, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday said his government was taking all legal steps to protect Tamilnadu’s rights.
Replying to a special calling attention motion on the planned construction of 30 check-dams across the Palar river by Andhra Pradesh, Palaniswami said his government is approaching the issue with legal care and is taking constructive steps to protect the State’s rights over the river. The CM said his government has written to the Andhra Pradesh government on the matter 5 February citing a case pending in the Supreme Court and making it clear that check-dams should not be constructed across the Palar till the case is decided.
Andhra Pradesh, Palaniswami said, has been asked not to take up the construction of the check-dams without the consent of Tamilnadu based on the 1892 Madras-Mysore Agreement. He said as per the agreement, no check-dams or diversion of river water should take place without the consent of the lower riparian States situated on the east, as Palar was a common river and belonging to all the States. Stating that the Tamilnadu government was disappointed that there was no reply from the AP government or the Union Water Resource Ministry, till date, he also pointed out that the State government moved the Supreme Court in 2016 to implead them. Considering the sensitive nature of the issue, it should be handled with care by all stakeholders and a smooth solution is needed at the earliest.