'Advise Karnataka to stop construction of check dams'

Chennai, May 20 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise the Karnataka government to stop construction of check dams across the inter-state Pennaiyar river.

In a letter to Manmohan Singh, the text of which was released to the media here Sunday, Jayalalithaa said: "I understand that the Government of Karnataka has proposed to construct check dams and diversion structures across the Pennaiyar river which is causing great alarm and apprehension in Tamil Nadu."

"Any attempt to withhold the water flow by constructing check dams and diversion structures across the Pennaiyar River will be a serious breach of the existing inter-state agreement on this issue. This will also be a body blow to the farmers of Tamil Nadu besides affecting the basic drinking water supply position," she added.

She said Pennaiyar is an inter-state river and figures in the list of rivers mentioned in Schedule 'A' annexed to the Madras-Mysore Agreement of 1892.

As per this agreement, she said the upstream state should not, without the previous consent of the downstream Tamil Nadu state build any new structure obstructing, diverting or storing the waters of the river.

"The Government of Karnataka has neither sought the consent of the Government of Tamil Nadu nor have they furnished any information to us, despite our taking up the matter with them to furnish the details of the schemes and also urging them not to commence any work without our consent," Jayalalithaa said.