“The apprehension expressed [in Kerala] over the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam is unwarranted,” Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram asserted here on Saturday.
When none had expressed fears over the safety of the centuries-old dam like Grand Anaicut, it was surprising how so much fear had risen regarding the safety of a structure constructed only about a century ago, he said.
“It is not a fear that came midway, but a fear born out of the byelection (idayil vandha acham illai, idai-therdhal acham). How we wish that the Election Commission conducted the byelection early,” he said, referring to the byelection to come up in Piravom in Ernakulam district, one of the areas that could be affected in the event of the dam bursting.
Speaking at a meeting organised to explain the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee's (TNCC) stand on issues such as Mullaperiyar and Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), he was confident that the Mullaperiyar issue would not be a “serial” but would have a denouement positively in a couple of months.
“The three-judge panel constituted in this regard has a time table and it will submit its report to the Supreme Court by February-March next,” he said. Going by various reports and how the issue had been dealt with by the court, “we believe that the Supreme Court's decision will be favourable to Tamil Nadu.”
On the demand from sections of the TNCC for dismissal of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Mr. Chidambaram said: “India has a federal structure and lakhs of Keralites live in Tamil Nadu and Tamils in Kerala. The connections between Keralites and Tamils run extremely deep in places like Coimbatore and Nagercoil. Even after the Supreme Court decision, we all will have to live together as the offspring of the same mother. Hence, it is imperative to act with dignity, restraint, patience and care [when dealing with the dam issue],” he said.
The dam was meant for the farmers of five districts of Tamil Nadu. “While Kerala leaders have expressed apprehensions over the safety of the dam, we in Tamil Nadu are equally concerned and interested in its safety.”
The Central government was “duty-bound” to allay their apprehensions and it was doing so with “necessary care.”
Kudankulam issue
Referring to the KNPP imbroglio, Mr. Chidambaram said Tamil Nadu had no other alternative except using nuclear power for its development. At the same time, the Central government had accepted the responsibility of allaying the fears expressed by the people of the Kudankulam area. “We are doing it. Please tell us what else should be done for your safety and we are prepared to do that,” he assured the agitators.
Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan also appealed to the people of both Tamil Nadu and Kerala to maintain calm on the Mullaperiyar issue. He was totally opposed to politicising it. He was confident that justice would be done and the “TNCC would not fight shy of fighting for justice.”
The Central government was handling the issue “with utmost care and I am confident that we will have an amicable solution.”
Emphasising that the Kudankulam plant would end power cuts in Tamil Nadu, he urged the agitators to listen to the sane voices of the scientists and allow the nuclear power plant to function.
Food Security Bill
The Union Cabinet will clear the Food Security Bill on Monday, Mr. Chidambaram said.
Speaking at the birthday celebrations of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, organised by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee here, he said that while it was imperative for party men to tell the people of the programmes and projects being implemented by the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, it was equally important for the people to know what else was in the offing for them.
For instance, the Food Security Bill would be cleared by the Cabinet on Monday. “Ms. Gandhi wanted it to be done even earlier. But as the Cabinet could not meet on Sunday, it would meet on Monday.”
The Lokpal Bill would be placed before Parliament this session. And the Bill against Communal Violence and the Bill on reserving a percentage for Muslims from the quota for minorities would also come up for discussion this session itself.
“All these are conceived by Ms. Gandhi and she discusses these issues with various people. And she never goes back on her decisions,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
