Kerala has no secret agenda to pursue in dam issue: Chandy

Kasargod (Kerala), Dec 16: Asserting that the safety of its people is of utmost importance, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today (Dec 16) said the state does not have any "secret agenda" to pursue in the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

"The state accords utmost importance to the safety of its people and will assure the same quantity of water from the dam to Tamil Nadu. We do not have any secret agenda," he said at a people's contact programme' here.

He suggested that Chief Ministers of both states hold talks on the vexed issue or with the Prime Minister or between officials concerned of both states. "None should treat the Mullaperiyar dam issue emotionally, but solve it through dialogue," he said.

The raging row over the issue had sparked off violent incidents in border districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the past few days with protestors on both sides targetting shops and vehicles. Kerala is pressing for construction of a new dam citing safety concerns of the 116-year-old reservoir, while Tamil Nadu has maintained that the dam is "as good as new" and accused its neighbour of whipping up a "fear psychosis" over the issue.

Yesterday, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a unanimous resolution stating that the state would under no circumstances give up its rights over the dam and accused Kerala of adopting "deceiving" tactics on the issue. Kerala Assembly had on December 9 unanimously adopted a resolution for building a new dam to replace the existing one and lowering the water level to 120 ft.

PTI