TNM criticises Kerala for hoarding illegal sand from TN

Madurai, July 20 (UNI) Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) leader Pazha Nedumaran today charged the Kerala Government with hoarding sand illegally quarried from Tamil Nadu for the construction of a new Dam to replace the existing Mullaperiyar Dam, declared safe and strong by the Central Water Commission.

Talking to newspersons here, he said a Conference would be held at Theni in the second week of August to register the opposition of the farming community of southern districts, dependent upon water from the century-old Periyar Dam.

The Theni district administration and the police were accused of feigning ignorance about the 'rapacious sand quarrying' carried out with the connivance of ruling DMK party men.

Sand was being quarried from the river Vaigai and its tributaries in the district, despite a stay secured by farmers from the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, it was pointed out.

The sand thus brought illegally, was being stored at a place contiguous to the Dam site, Mr Nedumaran alleged and warned the Kerala Government against proceeding with the misadventure.

Criticising the Karunanidhi Government for its inaction to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court order directing hiking of storage to an interim 142 ft in the Periyar dam, he reminded that the order was passed 517 days ago, that is on Februrary 28 last.

State PWD Minister Durai Murugan was taken to task for his stand that talks with Kerala would not be held until the Kerala Dams Safety Act was repealed. The minister, instead, should have taken a position, placing emphasis on Kerala's compliance with the apex court order, he observed.

While welcoming the Centre's decision to post CRPF personnel to monitor the security of the Dam, he said this was in response to the plea from the Kerala Government. A similar request from Tamil Nadu made earlier was not acted upon, indicating that Mr Karunanidhi has lost importance with the Centre, he noted.

UNI