TN taking all steps before SC on Mullaiperiyar: Minister

Chennai, Apr 2 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government is taking all steps to expedite the case before the Supreme Court seeking to annul the amendments brought by the Kerala Government to the Kerala Water Resources Act on the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue.

Intervening Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam, PWD Minister Duraimurugan said the State Government could not implement the Apex Court order restoring the storage level in the Dam from 136 feet to 142 feet as the Kerala Government had brought amendments to the Act against the Supreme Court order and raised safety concerns about the dam.

''We have filed a case before the Supreme Court seeking to annul them. The case is likely to come up for hearing soon. Only after the Supreme Court strikes down the amendments, its order could be implemented,'' he said when Mr Panneerselvam, while winding up the debate on the budget, sought to know what steps the DMK Government had taken during the last two years to implement the Apex Court order dated February 27, 2006.

''Only if the Supreme Court nullifies the amendments, steps could be taken to raise the storage level,'' Mr Duraimurugan added.

The AIADMK leader said soon after the Apex Court order, the previous AIADMK Regime headed by J Jayalalithaa had moved the Supreme court challenging the amendments brought by the Kerala Government on March 15, 2006.

He also wanted to know the steps taken by the DMK Government after it came to power in May 2006.

Intervening, Mr Duraimurugan said the AIADMK was in power for sometime after the Supreme Court gave its verdict.

''If the AIADMK Government had immediately implemented the order the issue would not have dragged thus far,'' he said.

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