THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Water Resources N. K. Premachandran has protested against the visit of a Tamil Nadu police team to Mullaperiyar to inspect the dam on Tuesday.

The Minister told mediapersons here that a commandant of the Tamil Nadu police, two sub-inspectors and four constables visited the dam, claiming that they were there for a study.

"Their entry into an area under protection of the Kerala police is highly objectionable," he said.

Mr. Premachandran said that the State would have no objection if experts visited the dam for studies.

However, the visit of a police team could not be countenanced in the context of Tamil Nadu's demand for posting of Central police force at the dam.

"Tamil Nadu should desist from such provocative actions," the Minister said.

Mr. Premachandran said that the Tamil Nadu police left Mullaperiyar in the afternoon, after the Kerala police intervened and held discussions with them.

They climbed on to the spillways of the dam.

The Minister said that the State Government had filed counter-affidavit before the Supreme Court challenging the demand of Tamil Nadu that Central police be deployed at Mullaperiyar.

Mullaperiyar was entirely an area within the territorial jurisdiction of the State.

It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu had protested when Kerala deputed divers from the Navy to inspect and photograph submerged portions of the dam on the upstream side.

Subsequently, Kerala had to recall the divers before they could complete their mission.

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