Assembly passes resolution on water for TN

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 18 (UNI) The Kerala Assembly today passed a resolution for reaching an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government on providing water from the Neyyar Dam for agricultural purposes.

The resolution was passed even as the Congress-led Opposition abstained from voting, alleging that the terms and conditions of the agreement were not included in the resolution.

After moving the resolution under Section 30 of the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act, 2003, State Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran told the Assembly that an agreement would be reached after safeguarding the interests of the state.

He alleged that the Chief Minister and the Water Resources Minister in the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government had in principle decided to provide water to Tamil Nadu and issued necessary orders, but it had not materialised as the Law Secretary returned the file, pointing out legal obstacles.

Mr Premachandran promised that the government was committed to protect the state's interests and the government would fix a charge for water and the agreement would revise it in a timely manner.

While negotiating with Tamil Nadu, the government would also discuss the issues of Mullaperiyar, Parambikulam and Aliyar, he said.

The government was not against providing water to Tamil Nadu and by maintaining a good relationship with the neighbour, all water disputes would be solved amicably, he added.

Participating in the debate, members from both the Opposition and the ruling LDF suggested a package, including Mullaperiyar.

Informing the decision to boycot voting, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the Opposition was not against providing water to Tamil Nadu, but the resolution had no terms and conditions.

UNI CGV AA SAM RN2105