Oppn extends full support to Kerala govt on M-periyar issue

Kozhikode, Nov 23 (UNI) Extending wholehearted support to the CPI-M led-Kerala government on the vexed Mullaperiyar issue, Opposition leader Oommen Chandy today said the state as a whole was concerned about the safety of about 35 lakh people living around the 110-year-old dam.

Talking to newspersons on the ongoing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the issue, he said ''Life and property of the people living around the dam would be in peril,'' in the event of heightening the water level to 142 ft and called for urgent remedial measures to resolve the crisis.

''I don't know why Tamil Nadu was firm on heightening the water level'' ignorning the fact that it could utilise the water from the dam even if it remained between 102 to 132 ft, he said.

Stating that Kerala would be adversely affected if the water level was restricted to 136 ft as flow to Idukki dam would only begin if it rose to 136 ft, he said ''but we are compelled to oppose the move mainly to avert a possible disaster.'' UNI PCH ROY MIR ND1832