Mullaperiyar: Kerala, TN to lose control over dam row?

New Delhi, Jan 3: Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been asked by the Supreme Court appointed Empowered Committee on Mullaiperiyar dam to give their suggestion on whether control and management should be given to an independent agency, in case a new dam is built.

The committee set Saturday, Dec 31 as the deadline which both the states opposed to. While Tamil Nadu refused to respond to the suggestion, as it is against the idea of a new dam, Kerala said it cannot let go off the control of a dam that was in its territory.

The first meeting of the Committee was held on Monday, Jan 3 after two technical members of the panel had visited the dam site. Reports reveal that the two members in their report said that the dam was safe and there was no need for another one.

An internal meeting will take place between the Empowered Committee on Tuesday, Jan 3. The report over the raging Mullaperiyar issue is expected to be submitted by Feb.

Tamil Nadu, in the Committee meeting in its argument on Monday, Jan 2 said that there was no need to build a new dam as the old dam was safe. According to TN, Kerala was plainly creating panic over the safety of the dam.

Kerala, however, said that repairing the dam would not be a permanent solution and appealed that a new dam be constructed. It also said that the Kerala government was ready to bear the expenses of constructing a new dam adding that it was willing to make changes in the report already submitted to the Committee and will include suggestions from any other agency or Tamil Nadu.

Kerala further said that it was willing to sign any agreement to make sure that the same quantity of water be given to Tamil Nadu if a new dam is constructed.

OneIndia News