Nothing improper about Mullaperiyar studies: Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 21 (UNI) Kerala today said there was nothing improper about the state holding studies on various aspects of the Mullaperiyar Dam and added it did not amount to contempt of court as was being argued by Tamil Nadu.

Rather, it was to assist the court in determining the issue, state Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran told reporters here.

He said studies were being conducted for the government to submit a detailed statement in the case filed by Tamil Nadu challenging the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act.

Pointing out that a number of studies on Mullaperiyar were under way, he said, besides the three-member committee, which was studying the environmental impact of raising the reservoir level, other experts were studying issues of probable maximum flood, impact of possible earthquakes in the region and possible consequences of dam failure, including inundation studies.

Another study was on to build a new dam to replace the existing dam, Mr Premachandran said.

The State would have to substantiate its case before the Court by citing study results when the case come up for hearing on April 5.

An expert committee constituted by the government was working on measures to be taken by the state on the Cauvery Tribunal Award.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had yesterday said Kerala's move to set up study groups set a wrong precedent. He said Kerala had gone ahead without the consent of Tamil Nadu, the Centre or Supreme Court.

UNI