Kerala, TN members clash in RS over Mullaperiyar Dam issue
Members from Tamil Nadu, cutting across party lines, said the 116-year-old dam was safe and demanded its water level be raised to 142 ft level, while those from Kerala said it was a question of life and death of the people in the state and their safety should not be compromised with.
Raising the issue during Zero House, AIADMK leader V. Maitreyan said the Kerala government was spreading rumours on the safety of the dam, despite the Supreme Court declaring it safe.
"The Government of Kerala is creating panic and rumour among its people... it said 22 tremors occurred in last two months, which is blatantly untrue. There have been only four tremors last year," he said seeking Centre's intervention in raising the water level of the dam, which he said was affecting the crops in Tamil Nadu.
Echoing similar sentiments, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said the dam was strong enough and safe, as has been certified, and sought raising of its water level.
"All apprehensions that it falls under seismic zone are baseless... Some miscreants are trying to damage the dam. We have already demanded that CISF be deployed there...We seek the intervention of the Centre to increase the capacity of water to 142 ft," he said.
Congress member from Tamil Nadu E. M. Sudarsana Natchiappan said the issue of livelihood and agriculture must be looked into, fearing there could be a law and order problem.
He said the Supreme Court has constituted a committee headed by a former Chief Justice and Kerala can report to it committee if it had any issues.
D. Raja (CPI) said a solution to the contentious issue should be found soon taking into account the interests of both the states and added that nothing should be done that might adversely impact the best relations between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
"I did meet the Prime Minister and asked him to intervene. It will be appropriate if the PM calls both the chief ministers and finds an amicable and meaningful solution. The Centre should take a pro-active role and convene a meeting of both states," he said.
Congress
member
from
Kerala
P.
J.
Kurien
said
not
a
drop
of
water
going
to
Tamil
Nadu
will
be
removed.
Mentioning
the
report
of
IIT-Roorkee
that
the
116-year-old
dam
will
not
be
able
to
withstand
an
earthquake
measuring
above
5
on
the
Richter
scale,
Kurien
suggested
construction
of
a
new
quake-resistant
dam.
"If
the
dam
is
not
safe,
let
us
have
another
dam...
there
is
a
fear
which
needs
to
be
allayed,"
he
said.
T.
K.
Rangarajan
(CPI-M)
said
the
people
of
Tamil
Nadu
were
not
having
two
crops
due
to
less
water
and
their
interests
should
be
protected.
"This
vandalism
should
also
be
stopped...
law
and
order
should
be
there
and
the
Centre
should
intervene,"
he
said.
T.
N.
Seema
(CPI-M)
said
the
issue
pertained
to
the
life
and
death
of
30
lakh
people
and
there
must
be
some
solution
to
the
issue.
"There
is
a
danger...we
cannot
live
in
fear,"
she
said.
PTI