Panneerselvam asks Modi to advise Kerala against building dam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advise Kerala not to construct a dam across the Pambar dam.

Panneerselvam also urged Modi to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.

In a letter to Modi, Panneerselvam requested Modi to advise Kerala not to go ahead with the proposed construction of the dam across the river Pambar at Pattisserry or any other scheme on the river.

"I also request you to advise the government of Kerala to furnish full details of the schemes proposed by them in the Pambar sub-basin and further request Kerala not to proceed with any of the projects, in any manner, till the Cauvery Management Board is constituted and the consent of the government of Tamil Nadu is obtained," he said.

Referring to the reports of Kerala's decision to build a dam across river Pambar at an outlay of Rs.26 crore, Panneerselvam said the river is a tributary of river Amarvathy, which in turn is a tributary of river Cauvery.

Panneerselvam expressed the apprehension that the dam, if constructed, would affect the irrigation and drinking water supply in the entire area dependent on river Amaravathy.

"The proposed plan of the government of Kerala in taking up new projects in the Pambar sub-basin is in violation of the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated 5.2.2007," he said.

"Any new project should have the approval of the Cauvery Management Board and the specific consent of the downstream State of Tamil Nadu," Panneerselvam added.