Kerala   

Kerala for amicable end to Salem row: Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan has said that the State Government wished to find a peaceful solution to the dispute over creation of Salem Railway Division by bifurcating the Palakkad division.

Replying to questions at the weekly Cabinet briefing here on Friday, Mr. Achuthanandan termed provocative the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister’s reported statement that trains to Kerala would be blocked from September 5 to register Tamil Nadu’s protest against strident Opposition to formation of the Salem division.

He had been trying to get in touch with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on the issue and apprise him of the consequences of such provocative statements, but in vain. He would get in touch with Mr. Karunanidhi at the earliest.

He would also apprise Central leaders about the situation, the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that if Kerala wanted confrontation, it could very well stop supply of water to Tamil Nadu from the Mullaperiyar dam. But it did not want any confrontation and the effort was to find a democratic and peaceful solution to the row.

There was also no question of the State opting for any direct action over the issue, he said.

The Chief Minister said the proposed agitation against the Centre over its alleged neglect of the State’s plea for additional assistance to tackle the monsoon havoc was being deferred in view of the Centre’s decision to provide an assistance of Rs. 50 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund and its promise of additional assistance on the basis of the report submitted by the Central team.

The Centre had promised to ensure that the Palakkad division was not unduly harmed when the Salem division was formed, and given clear hints that a coach factory would be sanctioned for the State.

The Centre had come round to this position on account of the sit-in by MPs from Kerala before Parliament and the repeated petitions from the State Government, he said.

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

Stories in this Section

Kerala for amicable end to Salem row: Achuthanandan
Kerala scientist wins Asian Young award
High spirits
Citizens’ Charter for Walayar
8.33% bonus in KSEB
Concern over blocking of trains
Special ceremony
Pocketful of posies
Bright spots
Festive spirit
LG celebrates Onam with world class products
The Grand Exhibition of Bridal Necklaces at Alapatt Heritage
Onam Shopping at My Kingdom
Maharaja Whiteline
Alapatt Heritage
Waiting for the ‘Onasadya’ at the theatres
The Onam Fiesta
BJP leader flays political violence
Gift for the big feast
Festival spirit
Campus notes
Onam shoppers warned Law & order

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