TN outbursts on Mullaperiyar from of fear of losing: Kerala CM

Kollam, Nov 23 (UNI) In strong words, Kerala today said that Tamil Nadu could withdraw from next week's talks in New Delhi on Mullaperiyar Dam issue if they wanted and noted that the neighbouring state's threat was borne out of fear of losing its arguments at the meet.

''If Tamil Nadu wants to withdraw from the talks, let them,'' said Chief Minister V S Achutanandan in reaction to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi's threat to pull out of the November 29 talks on the dam issue.

The Navy was called upon to examine the dam's safety, he said and added Tamil Nadu feared that the Naval team's findings would adversely affect their arguments of raising the dam's height.

This fear of losing its arguments during the talks in New Delhi had prompted Mr Karunanidhi to make such a statement, he alleged.

Mr Achutanandan also said Mullaperiyar was Kerala's ''sole property'' and it was given to Tamil Nadu on lease.

Meanwhile, following the Centre's intervention in response to Tamil Nadu's objection to the Naval Team's examination of the Dam, the Kerala Government directed the team to give up its mission, according to Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran.

Earlier in the day, a 17-member Naval team began inspecting the Mullaperiyar Dam to scientifically study the safety of the 111-year-old lime and mortar structure.

The Left Democratic Front Government had called the Navy for inspection as serious concerns were raised about the safety of the dam in case the water level went up beyond the danger mark.

Soon after the Naval experts reached the Mullaperiyar Dam, Mr Karunanidhi said if Kerala continued to indulge in such unfair and provocative actions, it was not possible for Tamil Nadu to participate in the dialogue.

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