TN objects to Kerala move on Mullaiperiyar; Talks in a week

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) Tamil Nadu today lodged a strong protest with the Centre against Kerala placing newspaper advertisements on the Mullaiperiyar dam controversy, stating that the move would not help the next round of talks to be held between the two states in a week or ten days.

Tamil Nadu PWD Minister Durai Murugan, who met Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz here today, told reporters that he brought to the notice of Mr Soz the advertisements in some Tamil papers which were placed by the Kerala government.

Mr Durai Murugan said such advertisements, which talked about the arguments that had taken place in the Supreme Court on the issue, did not create a conducive atmosphere for the talks.

He said Tamil Nadu had agreed, at the Chief Minister-level meeting held here last week, to continue the talks at the Ministerial level not to surrender its rights, but to show respect to the apex court.

The Tamil Nadu Minister said he told Mr Soz that he was ready for the talks with Kerala Irrigation Minister N K Premachandran after two days. Upon this, Mr Soz told him that he would talk to Kerala and finalise a date.

The next round of talks were expected in a week or ten days, Mr Durai Murugan said.

The Tamil Nadu Minister did not agree with the reporters' contention that his taking up with Mr Soz the issue of newspaper advertisements amounted to lodging a protest. ''I just brought it to the notice of Mr Soz,'' he said.

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