TN won't allow construction of new Mullaperiyar dam: Minister

Erode, May 30: Tamil Nadu Public Works Department Minister K V Ramalingam today said the state would not allow Kerala to construct a new dam across Mullaperiyar in place of the existing over century-old reservoir.

"The Tamil Nadu Government will not allow Kerala Government to construct a dam in Mullaperiyar, as the present dam is stable and strong, which was examined already by an expert team consisting of qualified engineers," Ramalingam said.

The minister told reporters that linking of rivers flowing in the state would solve the water scarcity problem and the government would take steps to link rivers flowing in Tamil Nadu. "Linking of rivers will solve water and irrigational problems and the present AIADMK Government led by Jayalalithaa will insist on the Union Government for linking of rivers," he said.

The Mullaperiyar dam on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border has been a bone of contention between the states for a long time.

Kerala holds that the dam, built during British rule, is in a precarious condition and if it breaks, millions of people in downstream areas would be in danger.

The state conducted a survey for construction of a new dam, which was opposed by Tamil Nadu, which benefits mostly from the reservoir. The issue has also been pending for long in the apex Court, which about a year back set up a high-powered panel headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice A S Anand to study the matter and seek to evolve an amicable settlement.

PTI