Kerala will give water to TN from Neyyar Dam: Achuthanandan

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 4 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said that he had written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi expressing the government's willingness to provide water to Tamil Nadu from Neyyar dam in this district.

Making a statement in the State Assembly, Mr Achuthanandan said his government was making such a gesture to create a climate conducive to hold talks with Tamil Nadu on water disputes.

He said the decision was also in pursuance of the Supreme Court directive to settle inter-state river water disputes through negotiations.

Mr Achuthanandan said Mr Karunanidhi had sought water from Neyyar dam during the talks he had with him in Chennai on June 10.

He expressed the hope that all pending disputes with Tamil Nadu on sharing inter-state water could be settled amicably by holding talks.

Referring to a point of order raised by Mr K M Mani (KC-M), Mr Achuthanandan said water from Neyyar dam would be provided to Tamil Nadu subject to a resolution of the State Assembly as envisaged in the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act of 2003.

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