Chennai, July 4(BPNS)
MDMK leader and Member of Parliament, Vaiko has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to immediately act on the dam being constructed by the Karnataka government in the Markendeya river which is a tributary of Pennaiyar.Vaiko said that the construction of the dam would affect the farming community of Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu and that around 870 hectares of farmland would turn barren by this. In a statement released on Sunday, Vaiko said that government must act against this matter with seriousness as it would affect the lives of several people of Tamil Nadu.
The senior leader said that the Kuddappalli and Beemandapalli villages of Krishnagiri district would be totally affected by this dam as they are completely dependent on Pennaiyar river for their irrigation and drinking water needs.
Tamil Nadu Water resources minister and senior leader of the DMK, S Duraimuurgan meanwhile said that the state government has already sent a letter to the central government to constitute a tribunal to resolve the issue arising out of the dam constructed by the Karnataka government across the Markandeya river, a tributary of Pennaiyar.
The minister in a statement said that the Central water commission had reviewed the work in 2017 itself and that the Karnataka government had also informed that it had built a dam of 0.5 tmcft capacity to meet the drinking water needs and to recharge the water table.
Duraimurugan in the statement said that the Tamil Nadu government had continuously opposed the construction of the dam and had filed a petition in the Supreme court in 2018 and the apex court had in 2019 ordered the constitution of a tribunal. He also said that the state of Tamil Nadu is expecting the issue to be solved through the tribunal and added that the government will safeguard the interests of the farmers and common people of Tamil Nadu who would be affected by the construction of this dam across the Markendaya river.
Political parties across the spectrum have condemned the move of the government of Karnataka to construct a dam across Markendaya river thus creating barren tracts of land in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu affecting the lives of the people of the district who are dependent on the river for irrigation and drinking water purposes. PMK Youth wing leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said that Karnataka had violated the agreement and that legal action is taken against that government.
