Political parties and organisations here today welcomed the directive of the Centre to Kerala to stop construction of a check dam across the Siruvani River, the lifeline of three districts in Tamil Nadu.

Reacting to the directive, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary K Ramakrishnan said that it was the victory of various forms of agitation by different organisations in and around Coimbatore district condemning the Kerala government.

The dam would seriously affect the irrigation and drinking water requirements of the three neighbouring districts of Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur, he said, adding that if Kerala continued its construction activities, a major agitation would be organised.

Meanwhile, Puthiya Tamilagam president Dr K Krishnaswamy also welcomed the directive of the Centre.