UDF attacks CM Vijayan over changed stance on Mullaperiyar    

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 2: Congress led UDF in Kerala today flayed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the changed stance on Mullaperiyar dam, over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads, and said the goverment should rectify it.

"The new stand adopted by the Left government would only be used as a weapon against Kerala by Tamil Nadu, which is now demanding raising the water level to 152 feet," Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here.

Normally when a new government comes to power, for six months important decisions were not taken and is regarded as a "honeymoon period", he said. However, this government has within a few days of coming to power, has taken a stand totally contrary to what had been adopted by the state so far on the issue and this was "protestable", he said.

Vijayan had during his first visit to Delhi recently after taking charge as Chief Minister had told reporters that the vexed dam row between the two neighbouring states could be resolved through talks.

"It is no use whipping up passions. The Mullaperiyar issue cannot be resolved by kicking up unnecessary controversies. Our effort should be to find a solution through talks with Tamil Nadu, he had said.

He had also stated that the Supreme Court appointed supervisory committee had found that there was no basis for Kerala's anxieties about the safety of the dam. He had also asked what the state would do with the existing dam once a new one was constructed.

"All these years Kerala had taken a stand that the dam was dilapidated and posed danger to lives and property of the people in five districts in the catchment area around the dam and hence a new dam was the only solution", Chennithala said.

Kerala was prepared to give necessary water required for Tamil Nadu. "Kerala's safety and water for Tamil Nadu" was the stand of UDF and other parties on the matter, he said.

The assembly had also over the years passed four resolutions on the matter. When Vijayan was the CPI(M) state secretary, in the all party meetings it had taken this stand. However, within hours of the new government taking office, how has the dam strengthened?, Chennithala asked.

He said people of the state wanted to know if the Kerala government had held talks with its counterpart in Tamil Nadu. The water level in the dam had been raised from 136 feet to 142 and now Tamil Nadu government wants to raise it to 152 feet.

Vijayan's stand would only help Tamil Nadu. "We want the people of the two states to live peacefully and amicably", he said.

PTI