The Hindu : Front Page : Tamil Nadu, Kerala agree to meet again on Mullaperiyar

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Thursday, Nov 30, 2006
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Tamil Nadu, Kerala agree to meet again on Mullaperiyar

Gargi Parsai

Meeting was positive, says Karunanidhi; it was satisfactory: Achuthanandan

ADDRESSING A ROW: Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz flanked by Tamil Nadu and Kerala Chief Ministers M Karunanidhi and V.S.Achuthanandan at a meeting on the Mullaperiyar dam issue in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI: At a meeting convened by the Centre here on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu and Kerala reiterated their stand on raising the Mullaperiyar dam level, but agreed to meet again within two weeks to narrow down their differences.

Tamil Nadu is insisting on raising the reinforced dam's level, while Kerala is opposing it on reasons of safety and has sought a new dam as a replacement.

The dam, built in Kerala across the Periyar, is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi described the 90-minute meeting as "cordial and positive," while his Kerala counterpart V.S. Achuthanandan said it was "satisfactory."

Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, who chaired the meeting, expressed satisfaction over the manner in which "both Chief Ministers accommodated each other's points of view."

Manmohan apprised

Mr. Soz later apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the happenings at the meeting, which came at the height of sharp emotions on the issue in both States.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu is part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre.

Asked whether he might consider withdrawing support to the UPA on the issue, Mr. Karunanidhi laughed and said: "You are saying what the Bharatiya Janata Party would like me to do."

Ministers to meet

Mr. Soz told presspersons it was agreed that the Irrigation Ministers of both States would meet within the next two weeks along with their chief engineers to discuss the technical details.

"Thereafter, there would be another meeting with the Chief Ministers. Dialogue is the most effective and honourable way of resolving the issue."

Asked about Tamil Nadu's assertion that a new dam could not be constructed due to the topography, Mr. Achuthanandan said his counterpart did not raise the matter at the meeting.

"Nothing rejected"

"Nothing has been accepted and nothing has been rejected. We are hopeful," he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi declined to discuss the details of the meeting.

He, however, hoped that Kerala would help Tamil Nadu implement the Supreme Court order on raising the water level to 142 feet from the present 136 feet.

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