TN to move Court if AP constructs dam across Palar: Minister

Chennai, Jan 25 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Government would move court if Andhra Pradesh went ahead with its move to construct a check dam across river Palar which catered to the irrigation needs of five northern districts, State Public Works Minister Duraimurugan told the Assembly today.

Replying to Mr C Gnanasekaran (Congress) who raised the issue during zero hour, the Minister said he called on Union Environment Minister A Raja in New Delhi yesterday and apprised him of the issue.

Stating that the Union Environment Ministry had to approve the project as it was to come up in a forest area, he said Mr Raja had assured him that his Ministry would not give the clearance.

Expressing hope that the Andhra Pradesh Government would have received the Centre's communication in this regard, Mr Duraimurugan said if the neighbouring state still decided to go ahead with the project, Tamil Nadu had no other option but to move court.

Though the matter had become an inter-state problem, Tamil Nadu would not give up its legitimate right on the issue, he asserted.

Following media reports that the Andhra Pradesh Government proposed to construct a check dam across Palar, the state raised objection several times.

When Local Administration Minister M K Stalin took up the matter with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekara Reddy in Hyderabad, the latter assured him that there was no such proposal and he would consult Tamil Nadu before taking any decision in the matter, the Minister said.

''But, I am angered and anguished over reports that the Andhra Pradesh Government has planned to lay the foundation stone for the project on January 28,'' he added.

Earlier, Mr Gnanasekaran expressed concern over reports on the proposed foundation laying ceremony and wanted to know whether the Government had taken any step to stall the move.

He also sought to know whether the Union Environment Ministry had given clearance to the project.

UNI