Two Kerala ministers holds fast over dam issue

Dec 05, 2011 |

Thiruvananthapuram

Tags:

Mullaperiyar dam

Stepping up the campaign for a new dam at Mullaperiyar, State Finance Minister and Kerala Congress (M) chief K. M. Mani is observing a day-long fast at Chappath in Mullaperiyar on Monday while his colleague and Water Resources Minister P. J. Joseph is fasting in New Delhi.

With the dam issue continuing to dominate the Government and the entire political spectrum in the state, a cabinet meeting is scheduled here tonight to discuss the latest developments including hardening of position by Tamil Nadu. The storm over certain submissions made by Advocate General K. P. Dandapani in the High court, which allegedly contradicted the state's position in the dam issue, is also to be considered by the cabinet.

Opposition parties had stepped up the demand for Dandapani's removal after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa referred to his submissions to reinforce the state's case.

Jayalalithaa had on Sunday, in a second letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in less than a fortnight, had sought CISF deployment at the dam site to avoid any ‘man-made catastrophic consequences’ in view of violent activities reported at the dam area in Kerala's Idukki district. She had also slammed "the orchestrated campaign of fear mongering carried on by Kerala government", alleging that it had led to a situation "wherein the very security and safety of the dam is being deliberately threatened.

The KPCC executive is also meeting here to discuss the issue and work out the way forward in the matter. Speaking at the fast venue, 77-year-old Mani wanted Tamil Nadu to concede state's demand of lowering the dam's water level to 120 feet as an immediate measure and wanted the Centre to step in to resolve the issue. His colleague Joseph also started a day's fast at Birla Mandir in New Delhi to mobilise support for the state cause.

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