Dy. Speaker moots new dam at Mullaperiyar

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 6. The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. C.A. Kurien, has called for constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar, if there is room for the slightest doubt about the safety of the present dam.

In a statement here today, he said that he was being forced to make such a proposal because of the importance he attached to the life and property of the people.

He stated that the dispute, if any, about the sharing of the water could be settled through talks between the two Governments.

He wanted the Government and the others concerned to give serious thought to his suggestion.

He wanted those concerned to ascertain whether the people's insecurity regarding the dam had increased even though Assembly committees and leaders of political parties had been visiting the dam frequently and trying to allay such fears.

Mr. Kurien pointed out that similar fears about the safety of the dam had spread among the people in 1978 too. As the representative of the Peermade constituency in the Assembly then, he had organised an eight-day fast at Wandiperiyar at that time. It was then that the Central Water Commission had visited the dam area and conducted a study about the safety of the dam. The water level was brought down to 136 ft on its recommendations. He said he was proud, then and now, that he was instrumental in bringing down the water level of the dam. Mr. Kurien lamented that this episode seemed to have been forgotten by many.

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Section  : Southern States
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