Chennai, Aug 13: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin today urged his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Jagan Mohan Reddy not to go ahead with its proposed plan to construct two new reservoirs across kosasthalaiyar river as it would affect inflows into the Poondi reservoir, which is one of drinking water sources for the Chennai city.
In a Demi-Official letter to Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said it was learned that the Andhra Pradesh government has approved the construction of two reservoirs across the Kosasthalaiyar river near Mukkalakandigai and Katharapalli villages in the Chittoor district.
This step has caused great anguish among the people living in areas in and around Chennai who depend on the river’s flows for drinking water and a small extent for irrigation. ”Being an inter-state river the upper riparian state cannot plan or give approval or construct any new Structure across Kosasthalaiyar without the consent of the lower riparian state” he said. ”Hence it is disappointing that such a step has been taken which will have a significant adverse impact on our State, especially on Chennai and its northern suburbs,” Stalin said and urged the AP CM to instruct the authorities concerned not to go ahead with the above projects and also not to take up any new projects in the Kosasthalaiyar river basin area in AP.
“Considering the sensitivity of the issue E request your immediate personal intervention,” he said. Kosasthalaiyar river basin and Kosasthalaiyar river are inter-state in nature. The river basin covers a total area of S727 sq km of Which 877 sq km lies in Andhra Pradesh and 28S0 sq km lies in Tamil Nadu.
The Poondi reservoir has been constructed across the Kosasthalaiyar river Which is a vital source of drinking water supply to the Chennai Metropolitan Area Stalin said. ”Any such construction of new reservoirs across the river its tributaries or sub-tributaries will affect the inflows into Poondi reservoir.
This could seriously affect the drinking water supply to Chennai city besides affecting the drinking water supply in the upper reaches. In addition, it would also impact irrigation in that area thereby affecting the livelihood of the farmers” he said and sought the personal intervention of Jagan Mo- han Reddy to desist from going ahead with the construction of two new dams across the Kosasthaliyar river.
