Kerala to take legal course for getting water from PAP

Kerala has decided to move Supreme Court seeking its due share of water from the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) as per the water sharing agreement with Tamil Nadu.

Kerala would also seek compensation from Tamil Nadu for the crop loss occurred in the state following Tamil Nadu's "refusal" to release the state's share of water under the pact, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting and an all party meeting.

As per a government estimate, there was a crop loss to a tune of Rs 44 crores in Palakkad district due to non-availability of water from the project, Chandy said.

An all party meeting held here to discuss the matter asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to interfere on the issue.

The meeting also requested Chandy to write a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for a meeting to discuss Parambikulam Aliyar water issue.

Chandy said Tamil Nadu had not responded positively to Kerala's request to release its due share of water and made it clear that the state would explore legal options.

According to Kerala Government, getting its due share under the inter-state agreement had become all the more serious with the state facing a severe drought and paddy cultivation in an area of 30,000 acres in Palakkad district was under the threat of destruction. It was also estimated that there was a crop loss of Rs 44 crores in the district, he said.

Chandy said the state would demand compensation from Tamil Nadu for the extensive damage of crops in Palakkad.

"By failing to give Kerala the agreed amount of water, there has been extensive damage of crops in Palakkad", he said.

"There was no response from Tamil Nadu for the letters send to them regarding the treaty', he said.