TN CM will decide approach on Periyar dam

Chennai, Dec 19: Tamil Nadu Public Works Department Minister Duraimurugan today said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will decide on whether to once again approach the Supreme court or to resume negotiations with Kerala on the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue.

On his arrival from New Delhi, after participating in the talks with Kerala Water Resources Minister M K Premachanran in the presence of Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, which failed to achieve any breakthrough on the Mullaiperiyar dam issue, Mr Duraimurugan said he would apprise Mr Karunanidhi about the outcome of yesterday's talks.

Describing the 90 minutes discussion as 'very' cordial, Mr Duraimurugan said, they discussed the legal and technical aspects of the Mullaiperiyar dam.

Asked what could be the reason for the failure of yesterday's talks, he said 'Kerala took an adamant stand by raising new issues,' including mooting out a proposal for constructing a new dam, among other things. ''Besides opposing such moves of Kerala, we will stick to our stand that they should allow us to raise the storage level up to 142 feet as per the Supreme Court's direction,'' he added.

''Mr Soz told us that another round of talks will be held soon in order to arrive at an amicable solution,'' Mr Duraimurugan said.

UNI

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