Achuthanandan flays CPI(M) PB stand on Mullaperiyar dam issue

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2: CPI(M) stalwart V S Achuthanandan on Friday took exception to his party Polit Bureau's stand on the Mullaperiyar dam dispute holding it did not reflect the sentiments of the people of Kerala.

The 88-yer-old veteran, a former Chief Minister and member of the CPI(M)'s Central Committee, said he expected the PB to correct its stand in accordance with the sentiments of the people of Kerala on the dam issue.

"The polit bureau's stand did not reflect the people's feelings on the issue. I hope the PB would correct it", Achuthanandan told reporters here. What apparently provoked Achuthanandan was the PB's reluctance to make a firm position supporting Kerala's demand for a new dam.

The PB, which discussed the issue at its meeting two days back, wanted the Centre to intervene to bring about a resolution by facilitating talks between the two states. He also demanded removal of Kerala's Advocate General K P Dandapani for purportedly stating in the High Court that the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam had nothing to do with its safety.

Achuthanandan said the AG's stand amounted to sabotaging Kerala's case in the issue over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu are locked in a legal battle. (Dandapani later clarified that his statement was twisted by a section of media and he did not say anything contrary to the position of the state government on the issue).

He also objected to Revenue Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakahrishnan's statement that Idukki dam in the downstream could contain the water flow from Mullaperiyar if something happened to the 116-year-old dam.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the arguments made by AG before the High Court totally went against the declared stand of the state. This showed that the UDF Government was handling the issue without any seriousness despite it being a grave matter that concerned the safety of 3 million people.

Meanwhile, pro-Left youth outfits took out marches in many parts of the state protesting against the Advocate General.

PTI