CHENNAI: Andhra Pradesh has communicated to Tamil Nadu that it is going ahead with the construction of a check dam across the Palar to tap 200 mcft of water for drinking water purposes and 400 mcft for irrigation.

Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan, making a suo motu statement in the Assembly on Wednesday, said the Tamil Nadu Government received a letter on Tuesday from Andhra Pradesh on the construction of the check dam along with details of the scheme. It was not acceptable to Tamil Nadu, which had already filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the construction.

Denying that the State was complacent over the construction of the check dam, the Minister said that time and again the Tamil Nadu Government was in touch with its Andhra Pradesh counterpart. The State would not sacrifice its right at any point of time.

Ramadoss' charge

Reacting to Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss' charge that the State Government and the Minister concerned were deep in slumber over the issue, the Minister listed the steps taken by the Government. On every occasion, the Assembly was informed.

He said it was not true to say that the PMK MLAs were not allowed to raise a calling attention motion on the issue. The Assembly records would prove that the PMK leader Mani spoke during a special calling attention motion raised on April 10 and PMK MLA T.K. Raja on April 19.

The Minister said he wanted to reiterate that the Government was not keeping quiet and was taking necessary steps to protect the interests of the State.

PMK floor leader G.K. Mani and other PMK MLAs wanted to reply to the Minister's statement, but were not allowed by the Speaker, who said no discussion was allowed when Ministers made statement under Section 110.

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