The Hindu : Kerala News : MPs clash in Rajya Sabha over Mullaperiyar issue

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Friday, Mar 03, 2006

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Kerala

MPs clash in Rajya Sabha over Mullaperiyar issue

Special Correspondent

Member from Tamil Nadu seeks Centre's help

NEW DELHI: Members from Tamil Nadu and Kerala clashed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday on the issue of raising the height of the Mullaperiyar dam.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, P. G. Narayanan (AIADMK) pointed out that the Central Water Commission had attempted to resolve the dispute over raising the water level in the dam by stating that the structure will be safe even if it was raised to 142 feet.

"But the Kerala Government is opposing the move. Now the Supreme Court has delivered a verdict that the height of the Mullaperiyar dam can be raised to 142 feet. It is for the Central Government to implement the project immediately. I demand that the verdict of the Supreme Court should immediately be implemented in the interest of the farmers of Tamil Nadu,'' he observed.

K. Malaisamy (AIADMK) said that the Members were not demanding any special favours but only wanted the apex court's orders to be implemented.

Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G. K. Vasan said the Central Government was aware that implementation of the order as it was in the interest of Tamil Nadu. "It will definitely be in favour of the State because it is to a common cause,'' he stated. Observations by other Members were not taken on record.

On Wednesday, when MPs from Kerala raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, opposition came from Tamil Nadu Members led by S. K. Kharventhan (Congress) A. Ravichandran (MDMK) and L. Ganesan (MDMK).

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