An AIADMK Govt would have taken steps to raise water level:Jaya

Chennai, Nov 23 (UNI) AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa today said if her party was in power it would have definitely taken steps to increase the storage level in the Mullaiperiyar Dam to 142 feet as directed by the Supreme Court.

''If the AIADMK continued to be in power, it would have definitely utilised the present flood situation to bring down the shutters to store the water in the dam to a level of 142 ft (from the present 136 ft)'', she said in a statement here.

Observing that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had not responded to the doubts raised by her, Ms Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK would have raised its voice strongly to implement the apex court's order in the all-party meeting convened by the Chief Miniser if it had rained heavily at that time like now in the state.

''If it had rained heavily at that time (during all party meeting), we would have taken a stand that there was no need for talks and instead favour pull down the shutters to store the water level to 142 ft as per the Apex court order'', she added.

She said only three questions were posed by Mr Karunanidhi at the all-party meeting -- whether to hold talks with Kerala in the presence of the Centre, hold direct talks with the Kerala government or to move the Supreme court.

''At the end of the meeting, it was decided to go by the Supreme court's suggestion to hold talks in the presence of the Centre. If it had rained heavily at that time (like now), we would have definitely said increasing the storage level was the best option, rather than holding talks'', she added.

Since the talks were not held immediately, the Kerala government used the delay to its advantage and had intensified its efforts to stall raising the level to 142 ft, she said.

On Mr Karunanidh's remark that the Kerala government had brought the amendments during the previous AIADMK regime, Ms Jayalalithaa said a case was filed in the Supreme Court during her regime as soon as the Kerala government passed an amendment in the Assembly in March not to raise the level of water in the dam.

''Then the model code of conduct for the Assembly polls came into force. If we were in power, we would have definitely taken steps to raise the level to 142 feet,'' she said.

She urged Mr Karunanidhi to stop ''betraying'' the people of Tamil Nadu on the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue and urged him to take necessary steps in this regard immediately.

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