He urges leaders and people of Kerala, Tamil Nadu to remain calm and maintain peace
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is said to have expressed his inability to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to protect the Mullaperiyar dam unless the State concerned (Kerala) makes a request.
Dr. Singh on Tuesday expressed his concern to a delegation of Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, led by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy, on the continuing violence in the border areas of the State and highlighted the need for leaders and people from both States to remain calm and maintain the peace till an amicable solution was found to the Mullaperiyar imbroglio.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram too expressed similar views on the demand for CISF security when the Congress parliamentarians from the State called on him on Monday evening.
The Centre has taken the stand that since the issue involves law and order and the subject is under the purview of the State government, the Union government could do nothing unless a written request is made by the State concerned.
Though the Mullaperiyar dam is under the maintenance and control of Tamil Nadu as per a lease agreement, geographically it is located in Idukki district of Kerala.
A few days ago, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Dr. Singh seeking CISF protection to the reservoir to avert any “man-made catastrophic consequences,” in view of what she called “mob vandalism” organised by certain political parties of Kerala at the site.
DMK president M. Karunanidhi and MDMK general secretary Vaiko too made a similar plea. The dam is at present protected by the Kerala police.
Dindigul (T.N.) Lok Sabha member N.S.V. Chithan, who joined the delegation, told The Hindu that the delegates wanted Dr. Singh's immediate intervention to increase the water level in the dam to 142 feet from 136 feet and to give a direction to Kerala not to precipitate the issue until the Supreme Court, which is hearing the issue, gave its final verdict.
As the issue involved the irrigation rights of the people cultivating more than 2 lakh acres of land and the drinking water needs of 10 lakh people in five districts of Tamil Nadu, the Centre should take some urgent steps to resolve the row, the MPs told the Prime Minister, Mr. Chithan said.
The Congress delegation also took up the ongoing agitation against the Kudankulam atomic power plant, which, if not resolved at the earliest, would make Tamil Nadu lose its share of 1,000 MW of power to be obtained from the plant when the project was commissioned. Some vested interests and outside elements were instigating the protesters, the MPs reportedly told Dr. Singh and sought his intervention.
Among others, M. Krishnaswamy (Arani), P. Viswanathan (Kancheepuram), J.M. Aaroon Rasheed (Theni) and Manicka Tagore (Virudhunagar) were in the delegation.
Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (M) MP Jose K. Mani expressed his concern over the growing incidents of violence against Keralites and their establishments in Tamil Nadu and sought effective steps from the Tamil Nadu government to contain the untoward incidents. “See how the Kerala government has kept the situation in the State under check and people themselves too are showing lot of restraint there,” he said.
“Ensure dam safety”
K.V. Prasad reports:
Expressing deep concern at the incidents on either side of the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday stressed that Dr. Singh should take the initiative with both governments to ensure the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam.
The party Polit Bureau said in a statement that there were reports of houses being attacked in the bordering areas while shops were targeted in some cities in Tamil Nadu. “All these are unfortunate given the longstanding harmonious and good relations between the peoples of the two States. The chauvinist forces are seeking to whip up tensions in both States; people should not fall prey to provocations but maintain their traditional friendship,” the statement said.
Keywords: Mullaperiyar issue, inter state dispute
Dam inside Kerala on a Kerala river and made by a Kerala King(Travancore). British era politics led to this one thousand year contract - unheard of anywhere in history. It is only a matter of time when the supreme court may say that this document is illegal. Also it is only a matter of time before this leaky dam breaks putting all the blame on Tamil Nadu world wide. So it is advantageous to Kerala that this dam bursts natually. But sadly many thousand people will die.TN is making the greatest mistake in its history by not grabbing the opportunity for a new contract on a new dam, which Kerala Govt already committed without thinking.Or perhaps because they are nice
Those who speak about the safety of the dam ( like Vaiko) are requested to live with their family down stream of the Mullaperiyar dam...........
can you all please stop questioning ???? what what ? before
questioning go and read the history and analyse the technology
involved in this dam construction?
Stupid politicians of kerala playing with two neighbors
sentiments.....idiotic medias are also supporting them to increase
their CRP rating.
Central Government should take firm stance to resolve this grave issue. While maintaining self restraint and peaceful atmosphere, it is the prime responsibility of Central Government to actively intervene in the present situation for bringing peace and happiness in both states. It is the duty and responsibility of Central Government to ensure safety of the people of Kerala, if there is an endangered situation prevails in Kerala due to the possibility of dam breach.
There is no doubt that, mutual fighting and quarrels between both states won't bring any positive results, only worsen the situation. There should not be any delay for Central Government to intervene in this burning issue.
Alas! I do not know whether to cry or shout at the happenings in TN and Kerala on the Mullaperiar Dam issue. None of the leaders but poor people are affected. Hats off to the learned judges of SC for their brief & curt advice to both neighbouring states not to deteriorate the situation. As an Indian, I am ashamed that we have reached the present stage with millions of years of cultural heritage, Mughal& British influence and post-independence free India. Politics and political parties need a thorough overhaul in national interest and we cannot be a mere spectator. Here,Anna's campain gains relevance.It is a sad story of Indian democracy that despite thumping win, except Nitish Kumar,Bihar CM, ladies Mamatadi and Jaya have utterly failed to deliver goods this time ridiculing democracy itself. People should force them, having voted to power to perform and deliver goods in national interest without wasting a moment until then no more celebrations to rejoice.
Alas! I do not know whether to cry or shout at the happenings in TN and Kerala on the Mullaperiar Dam issue. None of the leaders but poor people are affected. Hats off to the learned judges of SC for their brief & curt advice to both neighbouring states not to deteriorate the situation. As an Indian, I am ashamed that we have reached the present stage with millions of years of cultural heritage, Mughal& British influence and post-independence free India. Politics and political parties need a thorough overhaul in national interest and we cannot be a mere spectator. Here,Anna's campain gains relevance.It is a sad story of Indian democracy that despite thumping win, except Nitish Kumar,Bihar CM, ladies Mamatadi and Jaya have utterly failed to deliver goods this time ridiculing democracy itself. People should force them, having voted to power to perform and deliver goods in national interest without wasting a moment until then no more celebrations to rejoice.
There is so much of a fear psychosis created in Kerala on the safety of the dam exacerbated by the rhetoric from the political parties. From the rhetoric on both sides one cannot get answers to the questions based on scientific studies. 1. Can a century old Surki/lime dam continue forever? 2. Are there similar dams in India or in other countries as old as Mullaperiar? 3. If a dam burst takes place what are the probabilities of a huge surge of water downstream and damage Idukki dam and cause a catastrophe? 4. What is the basis of Kerala saying 120 ft is a safe level and TN saying that it can go to 142 ft? 5. What are the objections to TN for building a new dam and Kerala assuring the same amount of water to it. Can this assurance be fortified by managing the dam by a central agency if TN so desires? As one can't get answers to these questions based on scientific studies, one would request THE HINDU, which is respected by all, to educate people with facts.
This controversy has exposed the vapidity of claims of shared linguistic heritage of the two States, Indian nationhood, Hindutva and Marxist Internationalism! Few cubic feet of water wash away life-long ideologies! Even respected elders opine with a subtle partisan tilt! In the United States, the claims on the waters of Colorado are as contentious and affects more millions of people and billions of dollars! Yet they have contained all action and passion within the corridors of their Supreme Court! It appears, Indian democracy permits the states to flout the Supreme Court with impunity! Center's (reported) refusal to let the CISF protect the dam places greater emphasis on which State makes the request than on the 'real and present' danger to the dam and its dire consequences! Indeed, safety of the dam was at the root of Kerala's case!
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