Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran said here on Thursday that the State could advance its position in the Mullaperiyar case filed by Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court.
Welcoming the court’s decision to appoint an Empowered Committee to examine the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam and the scope for a new dam and related issues, the Chief Minister said the court order meant reopening of the 2006 verdict in favour of Tamil Nadu for reconsideration. The court had upheld the State’s argument that the Central Water Commission could not be represented in the committee.
Mr. Premachandran said the State would decide on its representative in the committee depending on the nomination being made by Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Nadu was nominating a person with a judicial background, Kerala would also do so. If Tamil Nadu preferred a technical hand, Kerala would follow suit.
