Govt will not permit Kerala to construct new dam: TN CM

Madurai, Oct 31 (UNI) Tamil Nadu will not permit the Kerala government's reported move to construct a new dam near the Mullaiperiyar dam, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Karunanidhi said his government will insist on the Centre not to allow Kerala to build another dam.

On the continuous refusal by Kerala to raise the water level in the Mullaiperiyar dam from 136 ft to 142 ft, he said already the apex court had backed Tamil Nadu's stand on raising the water level in the dam.

State Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan, who was also present said the Kerala government had made amendments to its Irrigation Water Resources Act and brought the dam under its control.

Tamil Nadu had filed a petition seeking that the amendment be nullified. ''We will decide on raising the water level after the petition is disposed of by the Supreme Court, he added.

UNI