Kochi, Feb 5 (IANS) The Tatas appear to have won the first round of their recent tiff with the Kerala government with the high court Friday staying the demolition of two check dams in Munnar.

Tata Tea had approached the Kerala High Court Thursday against the order of the Idukki collector to demolish two check dams constructed on the land in their tea estates in Munnar.

Delivering the interim verdict, Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair directed the state government to see that the status quo is maintained till Feb 9, when the hearing of this case will resume.

On Feb 8, the Idukki district collector will hear the pleas of the Tatas regarding a notice that was served to them asking why these constructions should not be demolished.

Tatas had emphasized in court that these were not new constructions, but had been there for several decades.

The water is used mainly by employees working in the estates and also by wild animals.

Last week, a seven-member committee of cabinet ministers visited Munnar. Its team leader Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that orders would be given to the district administration to demolish these two check dams because it was against the law of the land.

At the weekly cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan announced Tuesday that a decision has been taken by the cabinet to demolish these check dams by taking legal steps.

This interim verdict comes at a time when the State Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran was to oversee the eviction of all encroached land by various people in Munnar.

Set 2,500 feet above sea level, Munnar in Idukki district is often called the 'tea town' of Kerala because it has more than 50,000 acres of tea estates, first owned by James Finlay and Company. It has been with Tata Tea since 1983.

Munnar is about 200 km from here.