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Congress for contingency plan

Staff Reporter

Demands rehabilitation of people living on the banks of the Periyar

MULLAPERIYAR (Idukki district): Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala and former Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan have called upon the State Government to put in place a contingency plan in the wake of the rising water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir. The plan should include rehabilitation of people residing on the sides of the Periyar and also the waterspread areas of the reservoir in an emergency.

Flays Government

Speaking to mediapersons after visiting the Mullaperiyar dam on Wednesday, the Congress leaders said that in spite of the apprehensions in the minds of the people, the Left Democratic Front Government had not taken the issue seriously. This is evident from the fact that in spite of the official statements, nothing concrete is being done.

According to Mr. Chennithala, the Government is so naive to link the Neyyar water issue with the Mullaperiyar issue so that a conducive atmosphere could be created. Now the Chief Minister himself has admitted that it was a mistake. Extending the support of the Congress and the Opposition to all efforts being made by the Government in resolving the issue, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the need of the hour was to act. He expressed surprise why the Dam Safety Authority had not acted so far even though the water level had crossed the 136-foot mark.

The Congress leaders said the effort on the part of the Tamil Nadu authorities to divert more water from the reservoir, once the level crossed the 136-foot mark, for reasons of dam security amounted to admitting the contentions of Kerala.

`Government prepared'

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran on Wednesday reviewed the situation arising out of the rising water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir at an emergency meeting called at the district headquarters.

The Minister said the State Government was fully prepared to meet any emergency situation and would seek the services of the armed forces if necessary. The district authorities have been asked to set up control rooms at Kumily, Upputhara, Vandiperiyar, Manchumalai and the district Collectorate at Kuilymala.

The Minister asked the district authorities to organise rehabilitation camps wherever necessary in case of an evacuation. He later visited the Vandiperiyar and Upputhara areas on the Periyar riverside.

Road blockade

MADURAI: A meeting of farmers of five southern districts and leaders of various political parties, held here on Wednesday, decided to block all the roads to Kerala on December 4, if no step was taken to increase the storage level of the Mullaperiyar dam to 142ft. as per the Supreme Court order. The Tamizhaga Desiya Iyakkam (Tamils'National movement) leader P. Nedumaran, who presided, said it was also resolved to file a contempt petition against the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu ``for not obeying the Apex court order.'' When the Supreme Court had held that the storage level could be increased to 142 ft., why should the two States dilly-dally? PTI

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Congress for contingency plan

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