Opposition parties flay government on dam issue

Opposition parties have come down heavily on the State government for its position on the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa alleged that the government's decisions on river water disputes had turned out to be beneficial for neighbouring States and inimical to Tamil Nadu.

She had criticised the ruling party for keeping out of the five-member Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to go into the Mullaperiyar dam issue. This would have tantamounted to agreeing with the Kerala law prohibiting the raising of the dam level.

She had also urged them to send a nominee to the committee. If this suggestion had been heeded then, investigations would have commenced by now, she said.

Instead, the government petitioned the Supreme Court on March 8 asking it to recall that committee, but it was set aside.

In the light of this, the Chief Minister had announced in the Assembly on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu would send a representative to the Committee.

Such delays could not be brooked on issues concerning the livelihood of citizens of the State. She expressed the hope that the government would, at least in future, factor in the views of the members of the Opposition.

Volte face questioned

DMDK president Vijayakanth questioned the volte face of the government, which had first declared that it would not send a representative. The Chief Minister's recent statement announcing the change in stand had said that the decision was taken in order to benefit Tamil Nadu.

He wondered why the Chief Minister had not seen the benefit right at the beginning and why he had ignored the counsel of Opposition parties.

The ruling party's confusion had irritated the Supreme Court, which had earlier ruled in favour of raising the dam level.