Assembly session to discuss SC order on Mullaiperiyar

Kochi, Mar 6 (UNI) An all-party meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today decided to hold a special two-day session of the state Assembly on March 13 and 14 to amend the Kerala Dam Safety Act-2003 in wake of the Supreme Court order directing to raise the water level of the century-old Mullaiperiyar dam.

Announcing this to newspersons here, Mr Chandy said the Government would recommend to the State Governor to convene the assembly which, he admitted, was a rare step in the context of the announcement of the state assembly elections.

The session would be devoted exclusively to amend the Dam Safety Act since the February 27 Supreme Court order in favour of Tamil Nadu had caused concern and fear in the minds of the people of Kerala, he said.

Mr Chandy said while Kerala was not against providing additional water to Tamil Nadu, the interests of the lives of the people in the five districts of Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alapuzha had to be taken care of while raising the water level of the age-old dam from 136 ft to 142 ft.

The meeting was attended by all the legislature party leaders, besides representatives of all the political parties, except the BJP.

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