Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday assured the all-party meeting convened to discuss the Mullaperiyar issue that the government would examine and clear the confusion caused Advocate-General K. P. Dandapani’s submissions before the High Court on the issue.
Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan and other leaders had sought action against the Advocate-General for making submissions detrimental to the interests of the State, even threatening to walk out at one point.
The Chief Minister told the media after the meeting that the Advocate-General had not filed any affidavit but only a statement before Court. The government would examine the statement and oral submissions made by him and take necessary action.
Mr. Chandy said that all parties were united in their demand for a new dam at Mullaperiyar and lowering of the reservoir level. Kerala had no objection to providing water to Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Nadu had any concern in this regard, that could be addressed.
The meeting passed a resolution recommending action for removing the concerns about failure of Mullaperiyar dam and ensuring the safety of people. Legal and administrative steps should be taken to resolve the issue with Tamil Nadu, maintaining cordial relations between the two States. Water should be assured to Tamil Nadu from the proposed new dam.
It urged that violence and breach of law and order on the borders between Kerala and Tamil Nadu should be strongly dealt with. It noted that prospects for talks between the two States at the Secretary level had emerged after Kerala took up the seriousness of the situation with the Central government. As talks were to take place on December 15 and 16, an atmosphere conductive to resolution of the issue should be created. Hence, all should desist from provocative actions and show restraint.
