Pointing out that Kerala’s proposal to construct a dam across the Siruvani river for the Attapadi Irrigation Scheme is in violation of the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise Kerala not to proceed with the proposed scheme or any other scheme on the Siruvani river.
Seeking the PM’s immediate intervention, Jayalalithaa urged him to advise the Central Water Commission not to accord technical clearance for Kerala’s proposal to build a dam on Siruvani.
The CM, in her letter to the PM, said Kerala’s move to build a dam of 4.5 tmcft capacity on Siruvani river had caused concern among the people of Tamil Nadu as the inflow into Bhavani river would be considerably reduced if Kerala goes ahead with its plan.
“Further, there is wide apprehension among the people that Coimbatore and its adjoining areas, dependent on Siruvani for their drinking water needs, will be affected if Kerala is allowed to build the dam,” Jayalalithaa said.
The CM also observed that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had allocated only 2.87 tmcft of water to Kerala, despite Kerala asking for 4.5 tmcft. Thus, the present move of Kerala is in violation of the final order of the tribunal.
The CM also recalled that all the party States had filed clarification petitions before the tribunal on the final order. And, Kerala and Karnataka have appealed before the Supreme Court against the final order. “In these circumstances, it is only proper for the party States to await either the notification of the final order, or the judicial decisions,” Jayalalithaa said.