The State government will convey its objections to the Central government on the Mullaperiyar dam survey issue, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Monday.
Reiterating that no communication had come from the Centre to the State government on giving permission to the Kerala government for carrying out a survey, Mr. Karunanidhi, in a statement, referred to news reports that were attributed to the Kerala Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran and Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh.
While Mr. Premachandran was quoted as saying that the survey would begin after getting the Centre’s approval in writing, Mr. Jairam Ramesh was reported to have stated that Kerala had been allowed to carry out a survey within three km radius of the Tiger Reserve and this did not mean environmental clearance for constructing the new dam, Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out. Under such circumstances, there was no need to confuse oneself till the factual position was made known in the Supreme Court, where the matter was pending.
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The Chief Minister recalled that a few days ago, he issued a statement on the issue.
Jayalalitha accuses Karunanidhi of being infirm
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Jayalalithaa contended that the
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Kerala and Central governments knew that Mr. Karunanidhi was infirm in safeguarding interests of Tamils. This was why the Kerala government, with the help of the Centre, had drafted a proposal to construct a new dam.
She accused Mr. Karunanidhi of having failed in the effective implementation of the 2006 Supreme Court order on allowing the dam water level to be raised from the present 136 ft to 142 ft. The issue would have been over long back if the case filed in the Court by the AIADMK regime against the amendment to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act had been expedited and the order implemented, with the Centre’s help.
Ms. Jayalalithaa also pulled up Mr. Karunanidhi for his statement on Saturday and said it was ridiculous and condemnable that while being Chief Minister of a State and part of the Union government, it was condemnable and ridiculous for him to issue a statement that he believed that the Centre would not have given permission.