TN Govt moves SC for early hearing on 'Palar river issue'

Chennai, Nov 25 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government has moved the Supreme Court seeking early hearing of its petition to prevent Andhra Pradesh from building a check dam across Palar river.

The petition was filed last week, according to state PWD Minister Duraimurugan.

In its petition, Tamil Nadu contended that the construction of a dam would hurt the irrigation needs of the northern districts in the state, besides depleting the drinking water supply to Chennai city.

Since the apex court had posted the earlier petition filed by the state for February next year, the latest petition, seeking early hearing, came in the wake of Andhra Pradesh's move to lay the foundation stone for construction of a check dam at Kuppam on Decemebr 6.

Mr Duraimurugan said the petition was filed by senior counsel K Parasaran. ''I met our lawyers in Delhi and we have sought an early hearing, considering the urgency of the case. We are hopeful of getting a stay order,'' he added.

Referring to Mullaiperiyar dam row, he said the Kerala Government could not go ahead with its plans to construct a new dam without completing the legal formalities.

UNI