HC notice to Centre, TN, Ker govts on PIL over dam repair

The Madras High Court bench here today ordered notice to officials, including Union Water Resources Secretary and Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, on a public interest litigation seeking repair of breaches in the 18th century Shenbakavalli Dam shared by the two states.
Justice S Tamilvanan and V.S.Ravi directed the officials to reply by February 22, admitting the petition by a water users association.
The PIL submitted Shenbagavalli river, with catchment area in Kerala, irrigated about 35,000 acres in Sivagiri and Sankarankovil taluks in Tirunelveli district and Rajapalayam in Virudhungar district besides catering to drinking water purpose in these areas and a dam across it was built in Kerala in 1773.

In 1955, the dam developed cracks and Tamil Nadu government took immediate steps to repair them with the help of Kerala.
Again, the dam developed cracks in 1965. Tamil Nadu government had sanctioned Rs.7.52 lakh for the repair but no action was taken. The estimate was later increased to Rs 10.29 lakh. But even then no action had been taken.
In 2006, the high court bench here directed Kerala government to consider repairing the dam in eight weeks. Even then, no action was taken with the neighbouring state submitting that it could not be carried out due to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act.

But the amendment had been quashed by the Supreme Court now.
Hence, the court should direct the officials to repair the dam and protect the irrigation and drinking water source petitioner, Kalingapatti Marathoni Kanmai (tank) and Chattirapatti Therkukulam (South Kanmai) Water users' Association President V Ravichandran said.