Kerala sticks to its demand for new dam: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, June 21: Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran told the State Assembly today that Kerala continued to stick to its demand for construction of a new dam by Tamil Nadu to replace the 111-year-old Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki district.

Replying to a Calling Attention by Ms E S Bijimol (CPI), he said the proposal was brought to the notice of the Supreme Court as well as the Tamil Nadu Government.

The Supreme Court had suggested to settle the Mullaperiyar issue through negotiations between Kerala and Tamil Nadu with the cooperation of the Centre.

Mr Premachandran said Kerala was also opposed to raising the water level of the reservoir from 136 feet as it would endanger the life and property of the people living on the downstream of the dam.

He said disaster management plans had been drawn up to meet any eventuality consequent to the rise of water level in the reservoir during the monsoon.

Replying to another Calling Attention by Mr K K Shaju (JSS), SC/ST Welfare Minister A K Balan said the State Housing Board and the state-owned Nirmithi Kendra had been entrusted with the construction of 8,548 houses for homeless people belonging to the scheduled communities.

Construction of 4,006 houses had been completed and the remaining would be completed in two months for which a sum of Rs 10.4 crore had been sanctioned, he added.

UNI

Related Stories

>