We have nothing against people of Kerala, says Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
A special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on December 15, to express the solidarity of the people and all political parties and to pass a resolution that the state will not give up our rights over Mullaperiyar, because of the imaginary threat to the safety and security of the dam, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said on Sunday.
In a statement here, she said the issue of Mullaperiyar Dam was pending before the Supreme Court and her government believed that the solution to this problem lied in presenting sound technical and scientific data to the Supreme Court and in convincing the Court about the justness of our stand.
"As a result, I have been appealing to the people of Tamil Nadu to eschew emotions and to be rational at all times. I am one with you and share the same emotions and strongly believe in peace and prosperity for my people and the Country," Ms. Jayalalithaa said.
Calling upon the people of Tamil Nadu not to get carried away emotionally, she said “Let us show to the world that we do not believe in violence and hatred.”
She said even if there were only a few individuals who were in trouble or anybody in the State who had problems, she and her government were first to respond.
"With regard to the present issue, neither my people nor I and my Government have got anything against the people of Kerala or their Government. We have no quarrel with the people of Kerala. Therefore, destroying their properties or causing injury to them and in the process also causing ourselves pain and hardship is not a solution," she stressed.
She appealed to the people to allow the government to handle the issue scientifically and logically.
"It is my earnest appeal to all the agitating people of the border areas not to precipitate the situation and to disperse immediately," she added.
DMK protest
Meanwhile, the DMK announced that it would form a human chain in support of the demand for increasing the water level from 136 feet to 142 at Mullaperiyar, on December 14 instead of December 15 in view of the special session of the Assembly. This protest would be held in Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Dindigul, Madurai and Theni districts, the party said.
Keywords: Mullaiperiyar issue, Mullaiperiyar dam, dam safety
Dear Madam
With all respect i would like to express my concern over the mullaperiyar issue. i am a resident of Idukki Dist for the last 40 years. Do you know the people living around this DAM lost sleep for many years. Where will they go with their children? most of the people here needs counselling to bring them back to normal life. we have experienced earthquate several times in Idukki. So many Tamilians are living in idukki. We treat them as one of us where as what your people is doing to our people in your place? It is not good any way. We promose that we will contine giving water as usual. You have to make sure the safety of our life.
Please read this aricle to know the actual condition of the Dam. www.doolnews.com/rurki-iit-report-full-text-malayalam-news-728.html
From connected web pages, it is seen that sill level of diversion
tunnel in Mullaperiyar Dam is indicated as 104 feet. The volume of
dead storage of the reservoir is about 1/3rd of its capacity. The dam
can be safe though not to its full height at least to a certain
minimum height which can`t be disputed by anyone. Presently the
diverted water is being stored in Suruliar and Vaigai dams after
generating some power in Periyar PH.
If this is so, why can`t TN have a new diversion tunnel at a safe
lower level of Mullaperiyar dam instead of present 104 feet sill level
and draw the full water instead allowing it to be stored in
Mullaperiyar?
In Mettur Dam, after its commissioning, a new Tunnel PH was
constructed very close to the existing dam by diverting the irrigation
flows through a tunnel.
DMK's present reactions and statements are void of any sincerity. They just want to ride piggy-back with AIADMK when they failed utterly to do anything about this issue for 5 Years when they were in power. Demonstrations on 14 the , a day before the Assembly session the next day is an eye-wash. Let Karunanidhi fast like Anna Hazare for a day. Highly doubtful.
DMK and Truth are far far apart.
Madam, Please stop supporting for attack on Kerela people and their
property. You know everything but you are using the situation for your
political acceleration. Deal with professional attitude towards the
issues being a leader, stop all attacks against Kerelites across
Tamilnadu.
hope both kerala and Tamilnadu sort out their differences and come back to their senses that they should work together for the betterment of both states...
If Tamil Nadu CM feels that she wants her state's rights over the dam should not be given up and same time she is telling we are not against people of Kerala; for me its just like a consoltion sentence for any keralite hearing her. If Tamilnadu is not wiling to make a new dam now when they will agree with in the sence whole 999 years the dam will be safe ???? at some point any of the tamilnadu CM have to grand permission to make new dam, then why Jayalalitha is not willing. If she is worried about only the rights Tamilnadu enjoys over the dam now, she have to put this regard on the table that even if the new dam comes the rights of tamilnadu should not be surrendered. On contraraywhat she is now doing is an act of irony. I feel only political motivations are guiding Tamil politicians in this issue.
Part 2
Possible Scenarios
Kerala and TN together build the new dam
(1) Let Kerala and TN build the new dam so that TN has some equity rights over the dam.
(2) TN should be prepared to pay higher rates to Kerala.
Kerala builds the dam
(1) TN has no equity rights over the new dam.
(2) Kerala get exclusive rights over the new dam. Kerala, however, should work out a fair deal with TN. The terms of the deal will be seem unfair a century later and therefore should be periodically, say every five years, adjusted for inflation.
Tamil Nadu builds the dam
(1) TN gets water rights and another lease agreement that’s fair under current economic conditions. These terms will be very unfair a century later and therefore should be periodically, say every five years, adjusted for inflation.
(2) TN should limit water usage for irrigation only.
Part 1
This analysis is based on information gleaned from the internet and therefore may not be accurate.
Kerala’s Contention
(1) Potential humanitarian disaster due to unsafe dam conditions.
(2) Historically unfair deal and alleged exploitation by the British.
(3) Andhra gets Rs.3 Crores for 1TMC per year from TN, whereas Kerala gets only Rs. 40,000 for 70 TMC per year from TN.
(4) New dam will provide safety to Kerala and water to TN. Obviously TN will be paying higher rates per TMC per year.
Tamil Nadu’s Contention
(1) Loss of control of water rights for irrigation and hydro electric power generation.
(2) Pay higher rates for 1 TMC per year.
(3) Dam is safe.
Primary Concerns
Kerala’s concern seems to encompass both genuine humanitarian safety and potential economic gain. Tamil Nadu’s concern seems purely economic and loss of control. TN’s dam safety contention may be disputable.
Please see Part 2 for possible solutions.
This is with reference to Selvi J Jayalalithaa's appeal (or advertisement?) on Mullapperiyar dam (December 10). She begins history from the lease deed between the Maharaja of Travancore and the British ruler of Madras Presidency. It is not out of her knowledge that a lease deed for 999 years was against the then existed laws in both Travancore and in Madras, thereby rendering the deed null and void. The maximum permissible period of lease was 99 years. Secondly none questions the truth that the Maharaja was dead against signing the agreement and he was forced to do the same under the brutal pressure from the British who, at that time, held 'power of superintendence' over all native Kings. Even in petty criminal cases, evidences collected by the police under physical and mental threat are not accepted at the level of judiciary. Thus the notorious agreement mentioned above fails to pass judicial scrutiny. Hence the same should be immediately invalidated formally, thus leaving the issue no more an inter-State dispute. We have post-independent rules dealing with such cases. The whole matter is then a concern of Kerala. If Tamilnadu requires water from Mullapperiyar, it should be an entirely different demand. Selvi J Jayalalithaa can approach Oommen Chandy with the specific request upon which a reasonable agreement can be arrived at. Moreover when Jayalalithaa appeals against "divisive forces", she must loudly identify the said forces. She must not take it for granted that she is the only 'indivisive force' in the country. She also owes explanation on her stand on the dangers of Kudankulam nuclear station in comparison with a probable Mullapperiyar tragedy.
Why should this Jaya worry so much when Kerala has repeatedly
assured that the earlier agreement will not be aborgated and that
TN will get its water?
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