Coimbatore: Vowing to launch a series of protests to prevent Kerala from going ahead with its plan to construct a dam across the Siruvani river, the lifeline of Coimbatore region in Tamil Nadu, the DMK treasurer and Opposition leader in the State Assembly, Mr M.K. Stalin said on Saturday that Kerala could not go ahead with the construction of a reservoir without the consent of Tamil Nadu.
Leading a huge demonstration organised by the DMK in Coimbatore to protest against the Kerala government’s attempt to construct a dam at Attapadi, Stalin said, “the people of the Kongu region, farmers and DMK cadres who are gathered here are determined to prevent the Kongu region from drying up.
Kerala had already attempted to construct a dam at the spot in 1982, but the Central government denied permission. Now, the latter has permitted a study to construct a dam.
Though the AIADMK has 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the government in power here is silent over the issue.”
Referring to the special resolution brought in the Assembly on the Siruvani river issue, Stalin claimed that it was only after efforts made by the DMK towards that end.
“Since we repeatedly raised the issue in the Assembly, we were not permitted to speak. I do not want to make this issue a political one. The DMK is concerned about the issue as it is a livelihood problem for the people of this region,” he emphasised.
