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Thursday, Nov 30, 2006
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Chief Minister hopeful of positive outcome

Special Correspondent

V.S. Achuthanandan describes Mullaperiyar talks as "fruitful and friendly.''

NEW DELHI: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was hopeful of a favourable outcome of Wednesday's Centre-initiated discussion on the Mullaperiyar dam issue with his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. Karunanidhi.

Briefing newspersons immediately after the hour-and-half-long discussion, Mr. Achuthanandan described the meeting as "fruitful and friendly.''

For the most part, the Chief Minister sought to impress upon the Centre and Tamil Nadu that the Mullaperiyar dam was posing a threat to the life and property of more than 35 lakh people of the State. Also, according to him, there was an acknowledgment from both sides that the issue should be sorted out through dialogue.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Mr. Achuthanandan said the dam - commissioned in 1895 when the technology for building such structures was not very advanced - had become structurally weak. Stating that the dam of this nature had a life span of 50 years, he said: "Now after 111 years, the entire structure is unsafe. I say this to remove any misapprehensions that the dam is safe till 136 feet and is dangerous only if the water level in the reservoir is 142 feet or more.''

Making out a case for a new dam in Mullaperiyar as a replacement to the old structure, the Chief Minister also spelt out Kerala's stance for the interim period when it is being constructed. "My answer is providing adequate quantity of water to Tamil Nadu even during the lean months and meeting the safety consideration of Kerala as far as it can be achieved.''

In a separate briefing, Kerala's Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran said the approach of both Governments was positive.

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