Tamil Nadu get water from Neyyar dam

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 4: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said that he had written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi expressing willingness to provide water to that state from the Neyyar dam in Thiruvananthapuram district.

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

He said the decision was also in pursuance of the Supreme Court directive to settle interstate river weater 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 interstate waters 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.

UNI