The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Minister dismisses IIT-Delhi report on Mullaperiyar dam

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Minister dismisses IIT-Delhi report on Mullaperiyar dam

T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI: Public Works Minister Durai Murugan on Wednesday dismissed the report of experts of the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi on the Mullaperiyar dam, saying that it was prepared for the Kerala government’s “self-satisfaction.”

Contending that the safety issue over the dam was sought to be politicised in Kerala, the Minister told The Hindu over phone that a panel of technical experts, constituted by the Central Water Commission, had examined the safety question in an exhaustive manner.

The panel had answered all the concerns and issues raised by Kerala.

Its report was accepted by the CWC and the Central Government.

It was on the basis of the report that the Supreme Court, in its ruling in February 2006, ordered that the water level be raised from 136 ft to 142 ft.

Recalling that the apex court, on two occasions, had rejected petitions challenging the order, the Minister said Kerala did not respond to the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s proposal of carrying out a study of the problem of seepage in the dam.

“False statements”

In a statement, the Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarssanam condemned the Kerala government for making “false statements” regarding the safety of the dam.

He said the report had no legal sanctity and it was against the Supreme Court ruling.

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