Raising the issue during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha on Monday, AIADMK member from Pollachi K. Sugumar said that Karnataka was also trying to divert the flow of the river to its territory depriving of the benefit to Tamil Nadu.

The construction of the check dam and diversion of water of Thenpennai by the Karnataka Government would affect Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts in his State, he said.Karnataka had not communicated to Tamil Nadu about the proposal and also had not sought its consent.

A day after demanding a meeting of the Cauvery River Water Authority, Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask Karnataka to stop “forthwith the execution of any check dams or diversion structures across the Pennaiyar river”.

“I understand the government of Karnataka has proposed to construct check dams and diversion structures across the Pennaiyar river, which is causing great alarm and apprehension in Tamil Nadu

SC nod can lead to production of 6-7 mt from 49 category A, B mines

The shortage of iron ore in Karnataka is likely to ease by July, as regular mining is expected to resume in a couple of months from now. The Supreme Court-appointed authorities are preparing reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans, stoking hopes of an end to the stalemate. Once the apex court approves the plans, mining can resume in 49 leases of 50-hectares and above falling under the A and B category mines in the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur.

The political endeavour under the Saranda Action Plan (SAP) — not just to bring the government closer to the local tribal population but also to give them a stake in the democratic set-up and unfetter the control of the Naxalites who infest the dense forests — seems to have made some progress.

Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh and Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda had launched the Rs.250-crore scheme about two months ago to benefit about a population of about 35,000 at Digha Panchayat, about 40 km from Chotanagra panchayat of Manoharpur block.

CHENNAI: With a view to checking rain water from flowing into the sea and storing water received from Krishna River for the residents of Chennai and its surrounding areas, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday ordered the creation of a new reservoir in Tiruvallur district by merging Kannankottai and Thervoykandigai lakes at an expenditure of Rs 330 crore.

An extent of 1,252.47 acres of land, including 560.05 acres of government land, will be acquired for the project and the new reservoir will be in place within two years.

The State government has sanctioned works, estimated to cost around Rs.11.49 crore, for the artificial recharge of groundwater.

They cover the formation of subsurface dykes, percolation ponds, check dams and recharge shafts/ tube wells. A release on Tuesday stated that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had approved the proposals.

SHILLONG: The State Government is targeting to complete the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for tackling the flood problem faced by localities close to the Wahumkhrah River within March.

“We want the DPR to be ready by March as it will allow the State Government to approach the Centre for allocation of funds for the flood management programme,” State Water Resources Minister AL Hek told reporters on Wednesday. While informing that the Government is intending to construct checks dams right from Umkaliar River upto Mawlai Bridge, Hek said that they are also planning to construct proper drains on the small streams which lead to Wahumkhrah.