TN, Kerala CMs should discuss dam issue: Kalam

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16: Former President A P J Abdul Kalam today said the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu should meet on the vexed Mullaperiyar Dam issue at the earliest to chalk out an amicable settlement.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Sanik School at nearby Kazhakkoottam, he said the two Chief Ministers should take an objective view of various aspects of the issue during the meeting. "The foremost thing is that the two Chief Ministers meet and chalk out an amicable settlement.

The meeting should discuss the cost, benefit and safety of the dam", Kalam said. The centuries old relationship between the people of the two states should not be broken over such an issue, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Kerala had no agenda on the Mullaperiyar issue other than safety of the people. "We have no secret agenda. We have only one agenda and that is the safety of the people", he said in Kasargode.

PTI