MDMK, PDK oppose Kerala's move for dam across Siruvani

MDMK and Periyar DravidaKazhagam have opposed the Kerala government's move to build anew dam across Siruvani and demanded that the state withdrawits plan as it would affect irrigation needs of two districtsand drinking water supply to Coimbatore.

Kerala has decided to revive its 30-year old proposal toconstruct a dam across Siruvani in Palakkad district,borderingCoimbatore district, on requests by farmers of Attappady andnearby areas to KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala.

The party's district unit at its meeting here today urgedKerala to desist from its move, sayinig it would only sow theseeds of unrest between the two States and its people.

Tamil Nadu Farmers Association said the proposed damwould affect the flow of Bhavani river, in turn affectingirrigation needs of Coimbatore and Erode districts .

Stating that Kerala's earlier attempts to build a damacross Bhavani had been defeated by farmers of both districts,PDK General Secretary K Ramakrishnan said the Bhavani actuallyoriginates in Nilgiris district and flows to Attapady beforeentering Tamil Nadu.

This would add fuel to the fire, since the relationshipbetween two States is already strained over Mullaperiyar Dam,he said.

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