Kerala   

Achuthanandan's plea on Tamil Nadu demand

Special Correspondent

About deployment of Central forces at Mullaperiyar dam

NEW DELHI: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Monday informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about his State's opposition to Tamil Nadu's demand for the deployment of Central forces at the Mullaperiyar dam site.

Meeting Dr. Singh shortly after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi called on the Prime Minister, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that any lapse on the security of the dam was more catastrophic for Kerala than Tamil Nadu. Pointing out that there is no situation that warrants a review of the present security arrangement at the dam located in his State, the Kerala Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to protect the "existing and established federal system in India'' and advise the Tamil Nadu Government to withdraw its demand for deployment of Central forces at the dam. According to Kerala, Tamil Nadu's demand for deployment of Central forces at Mullaperiyar is an "outright invasion on the rights of the owner State.''

Mr. Achuthanandan also sought Dr. Singh's intervention in impressing upon Tamil Nadu to return to the negotiating table on the vexed Mullaperiyar issue. "The Prime Minister may please advise the Tamil Nadu Government to settle the matter as directed by the Supreme Court through discussions and arrive at an amicable decision that is mutually agreeable,'' the State Government noted in a memorandum submitted by Mr. Achuthanandan to the Prime Minister. At his meeting with the Prime Minister, he raised the issue pertaining to the formation of the Salem Division of Railways by carving out areas under the Palakkad Division. "It is only natural justice that while development is ensured for a new division, survival is not denied to the old unless the decision of the Railways is to progressively close down the old division,'' the memorandum pointed out.

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

Stories in this Section

Achuthanandan's plea on Tamil Nadu demand
"Law on temple entry if there is consensus"
Recreating knowledge
The apprehensions of being a mahout
Succour for the terminally ill
Signifying vigour, advancement
As the skies open up
Steady progress
Briefly

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