PALAKKAD: Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan has said that his Government will try for an amicable settlement of disputes over the Mullaperiyar and Parambikulam Aliayar Project (PAP) water issue with Tamil Nadu.

Speaking at a function organised by the Deseeya Karshaka Samajam here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that "while keeping our friendship with Tamil Nadu, the State Government will take firm steps to get its due share of water from the PAP agreements.''

He accused some officials of working against the interest of the State by helping Tamil Nadu take away the water due to Kerala.

Mr. Achuthanandan said that during his recent visit to Chennai, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had requested him to release Neyyar Dam water to Tamil Nadu. Kerala could consider it, if Tamil Nadu released PAP water, as per the agreements, to Palakkad for irrigation in Chittur taluk, he said.

Huge loss

The Chief Minister said that every year, Kerala was giving more than 72 tmc water from Mullaperiyar to the neighbouring State at a low price. But, Tamil Nadu was buying water from Andhra Pradesh at Rs.3 crores per tmc. Thus, Kerala was losing huge amounts in giving Mullaperiyar water at a low cost to Tamil Nadu, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Kuriyarkutty-Karapara multi-purpose irrigation and power project would be implemented during the tenure of his Government. Some estate owners in Nelliampathy were opposing the project under the plea that their plantations would submerge in the dam water. But the Government would go ahead with the project as it could solve the water problems in the Kozhinjampara-Chittur area of Palakkad to a great extent.

He said that the differences between the irrigation department and the Kerala State Electricity Board on this project would be ironed out soon.

Promise to farmers

The Chief Minister promised the farmers that he would take steps to intensify the procurement of paddy through the Civil Supplies Corporation in a more efficient way. Paddy would be procured from the very beginning of the harvest season and the support price would be ensured to the farmers, he said.

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