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Mullaperiyar: Minister slams Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

Says she is making it a campaign issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Minister for Water Resources Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa "for making the Mullaperiyar dispute a campaign issue for the Assembly elections in her State."

Political advantage

In a statement here on Sunday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said Ms. Jayalalithaa's reported election speech in Theni on Saturday indicated that she was out to reap political advantage from the Mullaperiyar dispute with Kerala.

Safety issue

"This is an issue concerning the safety of the life and property of nearly 30 lakh people living in the downstream stretches of the Periyar in Kerala. The Kerala Assembly had passed legislation [giving the Dam Safety Authority in the State powers to limit the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir] only due to the widespread fears in the State about the safety of the ancient Mullaperiyar reservoir. The State Government is duty-bound to protect the life and property of the citizens of the State," he said.

`Whipping up emotions'

He said it was grossly improper on the part of Ms. Jayalalithaa to use this issue to whip up emotions in Tamil Nadu for the sake of winning votes in elections.

Kerala `generous'

Kerala had always been generous in giving Tamil Nadu precious waters from the rivers on this side of the inter-State border. It was ingratitude to question the generosity of the people of Kerala, he said.

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