Kerala MPs demand PM’s intervention on Mullaperiyar dam
November 28th, 2011 - 2:08 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Nov 28 (IANS) Parliament members from Kerala Monday demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in the Mullaperiyar dam controversy, saying the earthen dam was not safe and the state needed a new one.
“All MPs from Kerala will be sitting on a fast in the parliament complex,” Congress MP from the state P.T. Thomas told IANS.
Cutting across party lines, Kerala MPs also staged a demonstration in the parliament complex Monday morning showing placards and raising slogans, demanding the central government’s intervention.
Concerns are being raised about the safety of the dam, which is in Idukki district of Kerala, after mild tremors shook the area Saturday. The dam is filled to its maximum permissible level of 136 feet following fresh rains.
“We want safety for Kerala and water for Tamil Nadu, another dam should be made and the prime minister should intervene,” Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP from Palakkad M.B. Rajesh said.
“We are not against Tamil Nadu,” he added.
The members also raised slogans that more than three million lives were under threat because of the masonry dam.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerhead about the 116-year-old dam, which is located in Kerala and serves Tamil Nadu. While Kerala has been demanding a new dam, the sentiment in Tamil Nadu has been against it.
- CPI-M politburo resolution on dam faulty, says Achuthanandan - Dec 02, 2011
- Mullaperiyar dam row: Kerala, Tamil Nadu MPs meet PM - Nov 29, 2011
- Kerala wants national parties' clear stand on Mullaperiyar - Nov 25, 2011
- PM yet to reply on demand for CISF at Mullaperiyar: Jayalalithaa - Dec 05, 2011
- PM calls for restraint on Mullaperiyar Dam issue - Dec 14, 2011
- Opposition will raise funds to build new dam: Achuthanandan - Nov 30, 2011
- Chandy demands new dam in place of Mullaperiyar - Dec 21, 2011
- Slight tremors in Kerala's Idukki district - Nov 26, 2011
- Dam row: Chandy in Delhi Thursday, likely to meet PM - Dec 01, 2011
- Kerala assembly restates stand on Mullaperiyar Dam - Dec 09, 2011
- Kerala seeks new dam, protests erupt against Tamil Nadu - Nov 28, 2011
- Chandy slams Jayalalithaa's varying stands on public safety - Nov 30, 2011
- Talks likely with Tamil Nadu on Mullaperiyar: Chandy - Dec 03, 2011
- Kerala presses for new dam with demonstrations, shutdown - Nov 29, 2011
- Mullaperiyar dam talks shift to Delhi - Dec 01, 2011
Tags: communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, earthen dam, intervention concerns, loggerhead, manmohan, manmohan singh, masonry dam, maximum permissible level, mullaperiyar dam, new dam, old dam, palakkad, parliament members, placards, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, rajesh, t thomas, tamil nadu