Kerala to construct new dam at Mullaperiyar: CM tells PM

New Delhi, Mar 31 (UNI) Kerala will construct a new dam at Mullaperiyar disregarding Tamil Nadu's objections, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today.

In a letter submitted to Dr Singh, the Chief Minister sought financial assistance from the Centre for the construction of the dam at a site agreed between the two states in 1979.

Talking to reporters, Mr Achuthanandan said the present dam had become very old, endangering the lives of 35 lakh people.

The Chief Minister said he had conveyed his government's decision to the Prime Minister as he had initiated a dialogue between the Chief Ministers of the two states to resolve the issue amicably, but the move had failed.

He said it was unfortunate that Tamil Nadu had chaged its stand after agreeing for the construction of the new dam.

He said Dr Singh assured him that the Centre would pursue the issue with the Tamil Nadu government.

The Chief Minister said he also took up with the Centre the proposed Vizhinjam port project and the Supreme Court ban on the use of fire crackers in temples in the night and the stay on the OBC quota.

The Kerala government would like the Centre to issue a global tender for the port project as Russia was interested in it. Since Russia owed rupee-rouble debt to India, giving the project to Moscow would benefit both the countries, he said.

On the apex court ban on fire crackers, he said the order had been passed on the basis of a Central environmental law. The law should be amended to enable the court to lift the ban.

The Kerala government would like the Centre to act fast on the OBC issue to enable immediate implementation of the OBC quota for students, Mr Achuthanandan said.

His government wanted to invite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for the 50th anniversary of the communist rule in Kerala. The Centre's help was sought in this regard, the CM said.

UNI