Mullaperiyar dam row: Talks between TN and Kerala officials put off

Dec 15, 2011 |

New Delhi

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Talks between officials of Tamil Nadu and Kerala organised by the Centre on the Mullaperiyar dam issue have been put off with TN saying it would prefer to await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue before coming to the table.

Sources in the government said Tamil Nadu has conveyed its decision to the Centre on the issue. Earlier this month, Centre had invited senior officials from the two states for discussions on the Mullaperiyar dam issue and had offered them December 15 and 16 as possible dates. This was to be the first official meeting between the two sides on the issue in six years.

The Centre had hoped that the talks would serve as a ground for future meetings between ministers or the chief ministers of both states. Kerala has maintained that frequent tremors in Idduki district, where the 116-year-old structure is located, was causing damage to the dam. It also wants that a new dam should be constructed to replace the old structure, claiming that it is essential to prevent a disaster.

Tamil Nadu has stressed that there was no need for a new dam and that the water level of the existing dam should be raised from the present 136 feet to 142 feet as per a 2006 Supreme Court directive.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed empowered committee is expected to submit its report on the dam row in February or March.

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