Inter-state Mullaiperiyar Dam issue at decisive stage

Chennai, Nov 17: The vexed Mullaiperiyam dam issue has reached a decisive phase with the Centre fixing November 29 as the date for crucial talks between the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments at Delhi.

With the sensitive Cauvery water issue taking a backseat due to the more than sufficient storage at Mettur reservoir, the Periyar dam issue has taken centrestage in state politics, with the opposition AIADMK accusing the DMK government of failing to resolve the issue.

Ever since the water level was temporarily lowered to 136 ft from the full reservoir level of 152 ft in 1979, after Kerala raised some apprehensions on the safety of the dam, Tamil Nadu had been making a number of vain bids to raise the water level to at least 142 ft.

The state government, despite being armed with a Supreme Court order allowing it to raise the water level to 142 ft, was now adopting a cautious approach, as it wanted to resolve the issue without any unpleasantness with Kerala.

The all-party meeting convened by the Karunanidhi government last month consented to the government finding a negotiated settlement in the presence of the Centre.

UNI

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