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Tamil Nadu, Kerala stick to stated positions on dam issue

Special Correspondent

Technical issues discussed at meeting; open to another round of dialogue

HOPING FOR THE BEST: Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz (centre), with Tamil Nadu PWD Minister Durai Murugan (left) and Kerala Water Resources Minister M.K. Premachandran prior to their meeting on the Mullaperiyar dam issue, in New Del hi on Monday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI: Kerala and Tamil Nadu refused to budge from their stated positions on the Mullaperiyar dam issue at a ministerial-level meeting convened here on Monday by Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz but remained open to dialogue.

However, unlike the last meeting when a timeframe was set for the next round of discussion, no roadmap was finalised this time round. Neither was there any clarity on whether it would be a ministerial or official-level meeting.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, Prof. Soz said technical and legal issues were discussed in detail today; first among the ministers and then in the presence of experts. "The two Ministers spoke without rancour and bickering which, in itself, is a positive sign.''

Both ministers — Kerala's Water Resources Minister N. K. Premachandran and Tamil Nadu's Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan — echoed this; describing the meeting as cordial.

The experts called for the meeting were Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Cauvery Technical Cell A Mohanakrishnan and D. Hariram for Tamil Nadu, and principal secretary Sayan Chatterjee and former member of Kerala State Electricity Board M. K. Parameswaran Nair.

Though the Centre did not put forth any suggestion, Prof. Soz asked the two Ministers whether either had a feasible give and take formula. Kerala reiterated its demand for a new dam 1,300 ft below the existing structure but Tamil Nadu pointed out that the Central Water Commission (CWC) had in 2001 said it was not feasible.

At a separate briefing, Mr. Premachandran disputed the CWC contention.

Pointing out that there was no evidence to show that a new dam is not technically feasible. According to him, both States had in 1979 itself agreed on a location below the present structure for a new dam.

Besides advocating the need for raising water levels in the reinforced dam to irrigate large tracts of land in adjoining areas, Mr. Durai Murugan said Kerala was creating unnecessary panic and fear among the people about the dam safety.

Though at the last meeting Mr. Soz had said that today's ministerial meeting would be followed with another round with the Chief Ministers, he was non-committal this evening, maintaining that it could be at any level.

"If there is need for me to go to Chennai or Thiruvananthapuram to talk to the Chief Ministers, I will for the sake of continuing with the negotiations. My job is to facilitate conciliation/reconciliation and I will stick to this course.''

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