AP CM's statement cause of action for TN to move SC on Palar

Chennai, May 3: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's letter announcing construction of a check dam across river Palar will cause Tamil Nadu to seek speedier action in the case before the Supreme Court, Public Works Minister Duraimurugan told the State Assembly today, even as the main opposition staged a walk out on the issue.

Assuring the members that the government would take all legal steps to prevent construction of the dam, he said the state's rights and the interests of the people of northern districts would be protected.

Reiterating his opposition to the construction of the dam, he said there was no change in Tamil Nadu's stand on the issue, adding Palar river would dry up if check dams were allowed to be constructed.

''Only in his letter, which the state received on May 1, did Dr Rajasekhara Reddy categorically state that his government was constructing a dam to store 0.6 TMC water for drinking and irrigation purposes in Kuppam and its surrounding villages'', he said.

This would be the cause of action for Tamil Nadu to expedite the case before the Supreme court, he added.

When Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam and AIADMK whip K A Sengottaiyan sought to make some clarifications on the remarks made by Mr Duraimurugan, Speaker R Avudaiyappan refused permission, leading to the walk out by the AIADMK.

Later, Mr Panneerselvam told reporters outside the House that the walk out was also to condemn the Government's failure to secure the release of 12 fishermen from Kanniyakumari who were reported missing for the last 59 days and said to be under the control of the LTTE.

The PWD minister denied PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss' charge that Dr Reddy had already stated in his February 5 letter to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that his state proposed to construct a check dam. ''In the February 5 letter, the Andhra Pradesh CM had said that it was in the proposal stage and had not been finalised. It was only in the letter received on May 1 that Dr Reddy had made a concrete statement that his government would construct a dam and had sent the design of the scheme to allay the apprehension'', he added.

There was no need for the government to hide anything on the issue, Mr Duraimurugan said.

Earlier, PMK Floor leader and party President G K Mani, raising the issue, said Dr Ramadoss had not made any specific charge against the ruling DMK or the PWD Minister.

''Dr Ramadoss had only stated that the previous governments which had ruled the State over the years had not taken steps to prevent construction of several check dams across the river. It was not aimed at the DMK government or Mr Duraimurugan'', he clarified.

Mr Mani said the Andhra Pradesh had constructed about 22 check dams over the years and was planning another check dam at a cost of Rs 275 crore. The 520 metre long and 35 metre height new dam was meant to store water to the extent of 12 sq kms and that the government had allotted Rs 50 crore for first phase works.

He also wanted to know whether there would be talks at the Chief Minister level to protect the interests of the state.

When Mr Mani said the dam was being constructed with ulterior motives as Andhra Pradesh was planning a big industrial estate near Kuppam, Mr Duraimurugan said such facts could be used to strengthen the case to get a stay in Supreme Court.

Mr Panneerselvam asked why the state treated it as a cause of action after Dr Reddy informed Tamil Nadu ministers M K Stalin and K Ponmudy after the dam proposal during his meeting in Hyderabad in August last year.

''He (Dr Reddy) had only said that his government was having an idea to construct a dam. He had not said anything conclusively'', Mr Duraimurugan said and pointed out that the AIADMK had only filed in the Apex court and that the DMK government only got it numbered.

When Mr Panneerselvam and Mr Sengottaiyan sought to make some clarifications, the Speaker denied permission, leading to the walkout by the AIADMK.

UNI