Uncivilised to talk on Mullaiperiyar before meet: TN CM

Chennai, Nov 22 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said it would not augur well to blow the issue out of proportion ahead of the November 29 talks on the Mullaiperiyar Dam dispute with Kerala.

Asked whether the demand for a new dam made by his Kerala counterpart V S Achuthanandan was a delaying tactic, Mr Karunanidhi told reporters here that it would be an ''uncivilised act'' to talk about the issue and blow it up when the talks are scheduled to be held next week.

''We are going for talks (in New Delhi) abiding by the Supreme court order. We will discuss the issue in detail,'' he added.

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 repeatedly making vain bids to raise the storage level to at least 142 ft.

Though Tamil Nadu was armed with the Supreme court order allowing storage level to 142 ft, Kerala government had been putting stumbling blocks and also brought amendments to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act 2002, to thwart implementation of the apex court order.

After Tamil Nadu challenged it in the Supeme court seeking a direction to declare the amendments as unconstitutional, the court advised both the states to hold talks to arrive at a negotiated settlement in the presence of the Centre.

UNI GV ROY DKA KN1508