The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Jayalalithaa urges Centre to protect reservoir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Jayalalithaa urges Centre to protect reservoir

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The State Government should approach the Supreme Court immediately to protect the Mullaperiyar Reservoir, said All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa.

In a statement here on Wednesday, Ms. Jayalalithaa wondered how the parapet wall of the reservoir could be damaged when it was under the custody of the Kerala Police personnel, whose salaries were being paid by the Tamil Nadu Government. "If it was parapet wall today then it might be the reservoir itself in future." As she did not think that the Central Government would provide paramilitary protection to the reservoir, she wanted the State to approach the Supreme Court. Criticising the State Government for remaining a "patient spectator" to the damage, she said the interest of the State should not be sacrificed for the sake of pleasing CPI(M) leaders.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko in his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the safety and protection in and around the dam should be entrusted with the Union Government without any further delay.

He urged the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to deploy Central Industrial Security Force and paramilitary personnel to protect the dam and also take appropriate measures to see that the storage at the reservoir was increased to 142 feet as per the verdict of the apex court, he added.

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