Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise Kerala not to build a new dam in place of Mullaperiyar Dam, as it was functioning and also because the whole issue was before the Supreme Court and the Empowered Committee.
She requested him to advise Kerala “not to whip up fear and panic among the people to gain political mileage”.
In a letter to Dr.Singh released to the media here, Ms. Jayalalithaa requested him to advise Kerala to honour the rights guaranteed to Tamil Nadu under the 1886 Agreement followed by the Supplemental agreements of 1970 in letter and spirit. Besides, she wanted the Kerala government to abide by the Supreme Court order dated February 27,2006, allowing the raising of the dam's storage height to 142 feet. She said it was reported in the media that Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy had met the Prime Minister and represented that the construction of a new dam would be the only solution to safeguard the people of Kerala. “The Apex Court in unambiguous terms had concluded that the dam is safe and the Government of Tamil Nadu had already taken safety measures to keep the dam in as good condition as a new dam,” she said.
“The Tamil Nadu Government is also concerned about the safety of all inhabitants downstream of Mullaperiyar Dam and is doing and will do all that is necessary to ensure that the dam remains safe,” she promised.
