Tamil Nadu move on Mullaperiyar "unfortunate:" CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 26: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today described as "unfortunate" the move of Tamil Nadu to drag the Mullaperiyar issue again to the court despite the Supreme Court directive to settle the issue amicably through mutual discussion.

He told a news conference here that it was because of the concern at the safety of the century-old dam and the anxiety of 3.5 million people in five districts that Kerala opposed raising the water level of the dam from the present 136 feet.

It was under these circumstances that Kerala requested Tamil Nadu to construct a new dam, he said.

Mr Achuthanandan said the Central Water Commission which inspected the dam in 1979 had also recommended strengthening of the dam for the provision of additional spilling capacity and for keeping the reservoir level at 136 feet.

He said the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran had written to the then Prime Minister Charan Singh assuring him expeditious action on the recommendation of the Commission. Copies of the letter were also distributed at the news conference.

Mr Achuthanandan said it might be due to the pressure from Opposition parties that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was taking the issue to the court again.

He said Kerala still stood for an amicable settlement of the issue through discussion between the two states as directed by the Supreme Court.

UNI