‘Achuthanandan seeking political mileage through Mullaiperiyar dam’
October 29th, 2009 - 11:59 pm ICT by IANS ( 1 comment )Chennai, Oct 29 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi Thursday alleged that the Kerala government headed by V.S. Achuthanandan was seeking political mileage through the Mullaiperiyar dam issue.
Reiterating that Kerala was repeatedly violating democratic principles and law of the land on the dam issue, Karunanidhi said: “Even as the Supreme Court had ordered raising of the dam height to 142 feet from 136 feet, the Kerala government amended its law to circumvent the judgment to gain political mileage.”
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the present dam built under an agreement signed in 1886 between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the British administration.
The dam is on the headwaters of the Periyar river in Kerala. According to a 999-year lease agreement signed during the British rule, it is operated by Tamil Nadu.
Citing safety concerns, Kerala has been demanding the construction of a new dam, which Tamil Nadu has vehemently opposed while demanding to increase the storage capacity of the existing dam from 136 feet (41.5 m) to 142 feet (43 m) to meet the increasing demand of water for drinking and irrigation.
On Wednesday, Achuthanandan said the opposition to the new dam proposed by the Kerala government was just a gimmick by Karunanidhi and leader of opposition J. Jayalalithaa.
Karunanidhi also accused the Kerala government of creating a fear psychosis amongst its people by repeatedly raising false doubts on the safety of the existing dam even though a team from the Central Water Commission had said the dam is safe and storage level could be raised up to 152 feet.
He said: “The Kerala government is yet to act on the suggestion made in 2007 for the constitution of a neutral team of experts to study the dam safety.”
- Don't allow release of 'Dam 999', demands Karunanidhi - Nov 24, 2011
- Let Kerala give up two taluks to end dam row: Karunanidhi - Jan 12, 2012
- Nothing lost in Mullaperiyar case: Karunanidhi - Feb 19, 2010
- Chandy demands new dam in place of Mullaperiyar - Dec 21, 2011
- Kerala scheming to convert Tamil Nadu into a desert: Karunanidhi - Dec 12, 2011
- Tamil Nadu bans screening of 'Dam 999' - Nov 24, 2011
- New Mullaperiyar Dam will be a reality: Chandy - Jan 04, 2012
- Opposition will raise funds to build new dam: Achuthanandan - Nov 30, 2011
- Vaiko fumes over dam, Kerala calls him ignorant - May 28, 2010
- 'DAM999' vies for Oscar qualification - Oct 28, 2011
- Tamil Nadu has executed major work at Mullaperiyar: Kerala - Nov 09, 2010
- Tamil Nadu plans memorial for Mullaperiyar Dam builder - Jan 09, 2012
- PM calls for restraint on Mullaperiyar Dam issue - Dec 14, 2011
- CPI-M politburo resolution on dam faulty, says Achuthanandan - Dec 02, 2011
- Will lead all party delegation to PM on Mullaperiyar: Chandy - Dec 07, 2011
Tags: british administration, central water, chief minister, dam safety, democratic principles, headwaters, j jayalalithaa, kerala government, leader of opposition, lease agreement, loggerheads, m karunanidhi, new dam, periyar river, political mileage, storage capacity, storage level, travancore, v s achuthanandan, water commission
November 7th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
“The Kerala government is yet to act on the suggestion made in 2007 for the constitution of a neutral team of experts to study the dam safety.”
The answer to the problem lies here: an impartial neutral team,not from Tamilnadu or Kerala. Now the question: is Kerala up for it? If yes, it shows they don’t have any axe to grind but the safety of its people, but if the answer is no, then there are serious questions to its credibility.