Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has said that the Tamil Nadu government should take immediate steps to reduce the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam from 136 ft. to 120 ft. respecting the popular sentiments in Kerala.
Addressing a public function after visiting the venue of the Mullaperiyar agitation here on Wednesday, Mr. Achuthanandan said this was not the view of his party alone, but of all parties. He said he was making the request in the wake of popular sentiments and it was more of a social issue confronting the people of the country than an issue between two States.
The people living on the down stream of the dam were gripped by a looming threat in the wake of the 24 tremors that occurred during a short period. ‘‘There were instances when two tremors were felt in a week and the intensity of the tremors has shaken the confidence of the people resulting in a popular wave for immediately decommissioning the dam,'' he said.
The Tamil Nadu government so far was adamant and the Prime Minister should intervene in the construction of a new dam. The Supreme Court still was of the stand that a solution to the issue could be found in a peaceful manner taking into confidence the two States and it had given the responsibility to the Union government, he said.
A team of LDF leaders led by Mr. Achuthanandan visited the Mullaperiyar dam. Former Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, former Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran, LDF convener Vaikom Viswan, and CPI State unit secretary C.K. Chandrappan spoke at the function.
