Kerala   

Kerala Minister joins issue with Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Says CWC had proposed a new dam in 1979

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Minister for Water Resources N. K. Premachandran on Tuesday challenged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's contention that the Central Water Commission (CWC) had not recommended the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

Producing photocopies of the documents signed by Tamil Nadu Special Officer for Inter-State Waters A. Mohanakrishnan in December 1979, the Minister said the Commission had indeed proposed a new dam 1,300 feet downstream of the present dam. He also produced copy of a location map of the new dam site prepared in 1979.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had questioned Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan's statement at a press conference in Delhi that the proposal for new dam had been made by the CWC.

Mr. Premachandran said the proposal for a new dam was one of the three main recommendations of the Commission. A joint team of officers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including Mr. Mohanakrishnan, who even now was serving the Tamil Nadu Government in the capacity of an advisor, had visited Mullaperiyar and located the site for the new dam.

The Minister said the documents showed that the safety of the dam was in doubt as back as 1979. "And the new dam is not a new proposal."

Though there was no valid agreement, Tamil Nadu had continued to avail waters from Mullaperiyar.

The Kerala Assembly had neither approved the Periyar agreement nor the subsequent supplementary agreement.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kerala Minister joins issue with Karunanidhi
Kathakali exponent passes away
Star Flyer sails into Kochi with 88 tourists
Greatest teacher of Kerala's own art form
Project to set up conservation centre for heritage medicinal plants at Chaliyam
KWA stands to benefit from revenue adalat
Vyttila bus terminal project in a limbo
Bid to reopen nine tea estates
BJP seeks Paloli's resignation
Government to institute award in Baker's name
Lorry stir will be dealt with sternly: VS
Kathakali exponent dead
CPI(M) weighing options
Government not to seek other details for land registration
Combating social evils
New HPCL head
A double blow
Tourism campaign planned in Bahrain
Rustic charm
Plantain on the pothole
Raising a demand
Charming
Workshop for lawyers
An unforgettable sojourn in the forest
Briefly
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu