Chennai: Supreme Court today dismissed Tamilnadu’s petition asking to stay the Karnataka government’s construction of a dam across Thenpennai River.

Justice U U Lalit delivered the verdict after hearing the arguments from both sides.

The petition was filed by the Tamilnadu government after Karnataka started constructing a 50 metre high dam across Markandey, a tributary of Thenpennai river.

In the petition, Tamilnadu government stated that it is illegal to construct dam across the river without the permission of the lower riparian State.

However, in its reply Karnataka said it is well within its rights to construct dam for drinking water purposes and does not need to ask permission from any other State.