No question of going back on new dam: Kerala minister

Kottayam, Dec 10: Countering Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's contention that Kerala was spreading unfounded scare over Mullperiyar dam issue,Finance Minister K M Mani said there was no question of going back on its stand that a new dam alone was the solution for the long-drawn tangle.

"For building a new dam in its jurisdiction,Kerala does not require permission of Tamil Nadu.It does not require anybody's generosity and there is no question of backing out under pressure from anybody," Mani said referring to Jayalalithaa's signed advertisement issued to newspapers on the issue.

"However,our wish and our request to Tamil Nadu is that the government there should co-operate with the efforts to resolve the issue amicably through dialogue," Mani, leader of the Kerala Congess(M), said addressing a UDF dharna here.

Referring to Jayalalithaa's stand that the dam was not weak as being argued by Kerala, he said studies by IIT Roorkie has found Kerala's fears as genuine, he said.

He also wanted the Centre to take initiative to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the two states.

Kerala Assembly had yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution for building a new dam to replace the 116-year old reservoir and lowering the water level to 120 feet in the existing structure.

PTI