PWD officials monitor maintenance of Dam: TN CM to Kerala CM

Chennai, Sep 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today informed his Kerala counterpart V S Achuthanandan that the Public Works Department was closely monitoring the operation and maintenance of the Mullai Periyar Dam to ensure the safety and interests of the people of both states.

Expressing his concern over the safety of the people living in the down stream of the dam, Mr Karunanidhi, in an official letter thanked Mr Achuthanandan for fulfilling the irrigation and drinking water requirements of the people of Tamil Nadu.

About the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act of March 2006, which fixed the FRL at 136M sounding the safety concerns, he said the Tamil Nadu Government had filed a suit in the Supreme Court in the same month, challenging the applicability of the Act.

Quoting the observaton of the apex court, Mr Karunanidhi said ''there is no report to suggest that the safety of the dam would be jeorpardised once the level is raised''.

Earlier, the expert committee constituted by the Centre on the safety of the dam, had permitted the Tamil Nadu Government to raise the water level initially to 142 ft and subsequently to 152, and to carry out the strengthening works along with the Kerala Government, he observed.

UNI JJ VD DB2239