Chennai: Even before the dust settles on the issue of Andhra Pradesh raising the height of a check dam across Palar river near the state border, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has alleged that AP is building seven new check dams on tributaries and raising the height of the five existing checks dams on the main river.
“If all the projects were executed, the Palar River will become a desert. The state government should take steps to stop the works. Since it is an inter-state river, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene to stop the works on Palar River and its tributaries. If both the state and Central governments failed to intervene, I warn you we will go to any extent to stop check dams work to protect the interest of farmers,” Dr Anbumani warned.
Dharmapuri Lok Sabha MP said that besides increasing the height of check dams across Palar river, Andhra Pradesh government is building seven new check dams across tributaries of the river.
“If the projects were executed as per the plan of AP government, Tamil Nadu will not even get a drop of water from the river. Agriculture has been undertaken in 4.2 lakh acres of land depending on Palar for irrigation. The extent of agricultural land are falling rapidly due to shortage of water following the existing check dams," he said, adding that crores of people would be affected in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore and Thiruvannamalai as they are dependent on Palar river for their drinking water needs.
