Only a new dam can solve Mullaiperiyar issue: Kerala CM

Chennai, June 5 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said building a new dam was the only solution to the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue.

In a brief interaction with newspersons after laying the foundation stone for a star hotel project, launched by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) here, the chief minister said ''building a new dam is the only option left with Kerala to resolve the issue.'' Kerala was always ready to hold talks with Tamil Nadu Government in this regard, he said adding ''we always believe in solving the issue through talks.'' Mr Achuthanandan said Tamil Nadu had a feeling that Kerala was trying to build a new dam to deny water to it, ''but we want to build the new dam only to give water to Tamil Nadu.'' There was no question of raising the water level to 152 feet as the Kerala Government do not want to play with the lives of 35 lakh people from three districts of Ernakulam, Idduki and Kottayam.

''These people will be after us if we go ahead and raise the water level. When we are at the receiving end, Tamil Nadu will just sit and say excuse me,'' he said explaining the consequences, the Kerala Government would face if it did not go for a new dam.

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