The government will convene an all-party meeting to discuss the developments related to the Mullaperiyar dam on November 23.
Briefing the media on the decisions of the Cabinet and a conference of Members of Parliament from the State held here on Wednesday, Minister for Rural Development and Culture K.C. Joseph said the MPs would raise the Mullaperiyar issue in Parliament and bring the situation arising from raising of the water level in the dam to 142 feet to the notice of the Central government.
The Minister said the MPs would highlight issues such as fears of the people, unsafe condition of the dam and threat to the ecology of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Cabinet had discussed the issues in detail. The government had asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to submit a report on the impact of rising water level in the dam on the Periyar Reserve within two days.
Mr. Joseph said the water level in the dam was currently at 141.6 feet. Tamil Nadu had adopted a strategy of reducing outflow from the dam (intake to the Vaigai dam) to raise the water level in the name of the Supreme Court order.
He said the MPs would press the Centre for allotment of land from the Periyar Tiger Reserve for Sabarimala development. They would also make demands for inclusion of various development projects in the Railway Budget. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would meet the Union Railway Minister in New Delhi shortly to present him a prioritised list for railway development in the State.
