Tamil Nadu water crisis: Andhra govt's fresh construction on Palar River may worsen situation

Tamil Nadu’s share of water problems is far from over. While Karnataka plays hide and seek with Cauvery water, Andhra Pradesh government has initiated masonry works to increase the height of the check dams across Palar River in Kuppam Mandal.

In 2014, the height of the check dam was raised to 22 feet from its original height of 7 feet. It is now learnt that the height may be increased to 40 feet. This move by the Andhra Pradesh government is seen as a clear violation of inter-state river water sharing agreement.

As per the 1892 agreement between erstwhile Mysore and Madras Presidency, Tamil Nadu is a lower riparian state and its consent is needed for any construction along the river. Trouble started for Tamil Nadu when Andhra started to increase the height of check dams affecting the flow of water to the state.

An interstate river, Palar traverses the longest course in Tamil Nadu by covering 225 kms. Entering the state in Vaniyambadi, it flows down the northern districts of Vellore, Kancheepuram, Thiruvannamalai and Thiruvallur districts feeding hundreds of water tanks and serving as a lifeline to farmers in the region.

Opposition parties have slammed the ruling government over its lackadaisical approach in the matter. DMK President MK Stalin has urged CM Palaniswami to take legal recourse to solve the dispute.

Activists rue the complacency of state government in dealing with the issue. Ashok, an activist of the Rivers of Ecology Committee in Vellore district, wants Tamil Nadu government to immediately intervene on the issue and take appropriate action.

Andhra Pradesh government is increasing the height of check dams at a rapid pace. In 2016, CM Jayalalithaa got a stay order from the court when Andhra government was trying to increase the height of the check dam in Ganeshapuram. However, after her demise, the present CM has not taken any action to save the Palar river. He has been very complacent on this issue, turning a blind eye to the suffering of people in Vellore district, the activist said.