TN ridicules Kerala's move to sell water

Chennai, May 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister Duraimurugan today ridiculed Kerala for its move to sell water to Tamil Nadu for irrigation purposes under the Neyyar River Water Project.

Responding to concerns expressed by members over Kerala refusing to release water under the project, he said Kerala Water Resources Minister K N Premachandran had written to the State that Kerala would release water after realising the value of water.

No State in India is selling water like Kerala, he said adding, Kerala has also informed the State that it was drafting an agreement to supply water to Tamil Nadu for money after the previous government stopped supply of water.

Stating that Kerala was insisting on charging money for water, he said never in India's history, a State had asked money for supply of water, Mr Duraimurugan said.

Coming to the rescue of Kerala, Mr John Joseph (CPI-M) said Tamil Nadu should appreciate that the present government in Kerala has come forward to supply water.

He suggested that the Tamil Nadu government could hold discussions with Kerala to sort out issues. As per the 1964 agreeement, Kerala was releasing water from Neyyar for irrigation in Southern districts, but the UDF government in 2003 had cancelled the agreement.

The then AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu did not take up the issue with Kerala, he said. Now the present Leftist government offered to supply water, he added.

UNI