Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy hopes that the long-pending dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar Dam could be resolved through legal processes, as the neighbouring state has not come forward for talks.
“We are always ready for talks, either bilateral or through the Centre’s mediation. But Tamil Nadu has not agreed for that. In this situation, we expect a solution to the issue from the Supreme Court,” Mr. Chandy said.
Making the state’s position clear, he said Kerala wanted a new dam in place of the 116-year-old structure and also to maintain the water level at 136 feet.
The state was opposed to the proposal of the Supreme Court appointed Empowered Committee to raise the water level to 142 feet. Similarly, the proposal to construct a tunnel at 50 feet below the present dam to route water to Tamil Nadu was not acceptable to Kerala, Mr. Chandy said.
The construction of the tunnel will harm the state in many ways including disappearance of the reservoir itself, he said.
“While we hold on to this position, we are not asking for the scrapping of the agreement with Tamil Nadu.Nor do we want to curtail single drop of water flowing to Tamil Nadu. Our persistent stand has been water for Tamil Nadu and safety for Kerala, Mr. Chandy, who completed one year in office, told PTI.
On concerns voiced by some quarters over the panel report, he claimed that the empowered committee had in-principle accepted the demand for a new dam.
The Mullaperiyar Dam is located in Kerala’s Idduki district but managed by Tamil Nadu on a 999-year lease period. Tamil Nadu has been maintaining that the dam was safe and the water level can be raised to 142 ft.
On Tamil Nadu’s demand that the entire power to be produced from Kudankulam Nuclear Plant be allotted to it, he said Kerala was entitled to its share from the plant and it was the Centre’s responsibility to ensure that the state received it.
“It is the responsibility of the Centre to make due share available to the state,” said Mr. Chandy, who had earlier this month written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking 500 MW from the Kudankulam plant.
Keywords: Mullaperiyar dam row, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
Well said Murugesh..
KL can ONLY dream of constructing a dam inside a reserved forest. It can never happen as thousands of trees need to be cut down. Kerala is getting ready for a major confrontation with TN even after the Supreme court panel favoured TNs stand. Their argument that they will not accept anything is a futile attempt to subvert judiciary in this country. KL is much dependent on TN for many things and should use the negotiation skills rather than taking a stupid standoff.
A gentleman taking pride in the Tamil film industry severing ties and quoting Keralite population in TN are best sentiments of one upmanship. The Indian constitution needs to enact a law which forces state leaders to resolve a dispute through discussions - Jayalalitha and Chandy should start discussions and ensure the people relations are not affected. Media should create an environment conducive to discussions - unfortunately all this sounds very utopian. Old laws and pre-independence agreements need a re-look so that all affected parties are taken into confidence. Natural resources will determine survival of society and the laws need a serious overhaul.
Let the Kerala rivers flow as it does now. Let's not make further
imbalance to it. Sharing of water from mullaperiyar itself is a mercy
and its high time Kerala must renew the lease with new dam. If TN wants
water, Buy it at market rates like it does from Karnataka. We don't want
to buy friendship at the expense of our ecological balance.
Water is a material resource of the community which in the context of
the Mullaperiyar will be all the people in its drainage basin who
depend on the river. Article 39(b) of the Constitution will govern.
Before independence,the state of Cochin was under British suzerainty
and became independent and sovereign on 15th August,1947 under the
Indian Independence Act,1947.Now,Kerala and Tamil Nadu are co-ordinate
equals and the sharing of the material resources represented by the
Mullaperiyar will have to answer Article 39(b).
The Helsinki Rules will provide a method of sharing. Art.39(b) will
control in fixing the height. The interests of the people who are
likely to be adversely affected by any structural weaknesses in the
dam are to be duly taken into account.Disregarding art.39(b)will be an
arbitrary exercise of power because of its fundamentality in the
governance of the country and violate Art.14 inviting punishment under
Sec.166 IPC. Art.361 prescribes personal liability as the rule.
The contention that the empowered committee has accepted the proposal
for new dam is wrong. The committee has asked to reconsider the proposal
which means that it is not in favour of a new dam. Kerala is getting
ready to throw more spanners into the works.
Digging a tunnel 50 feet below the existing water level would solve all
our concerns including our friends in Keralas concern for their security
and water problem in 11 districts of Tamil Nadu.
Right from Olavakkot Railway division, Keralites have been taking Tamil Nadu for a ride. That is partly because of our politicians neglecting the border cities like Coimbatore and Nagercoil. For the first time Kerala Govt realized the power of the unity among the tamils and they back tracked and reduced their aggression when the film industry also joined in snapping the ties. It is high time Kerala realized that neighbours like Tamil Nadu ( with a sizeable population of Keralites in Coimbatore and Chennai ) are more important than fighting for trivial issues. If Kerala Government had shown some restraint this could have been solved amicably. Instead, because of their proximity to the Central Govt they took a defiant stand and now they have to either look for directives from the Court or from the Centre, either way losing the trust of the neighbours.
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