In the backdrop of Kerala pushing hard for an out of court settlement on the vexatious Mullaperiyar issue, Tamil Nadu government has decided not to send its public works and water resources department secretary M. Saikumar for talks with Kerala on December 16.
The government has told the Centre on Thursday to wait till the SC-appointed empowered committee, which is studying the strength of the 116-year-old dam, submits its report, to hold talks. Union water resources ministry secretary Dhruv Vijay Singh confirmed it. The Opposition DMK too concurred with the views of TN government.
Following Kerala’s pressure, Union water resources ministry has called the water resources department secretaries M. Saikumar of Tamil Nadu and K. Jayakumar of Kerala for talks on December 16. Informed sources said the government of Tamil Nadu has conveyed its inability to attend the meeting since its case against Kerala’s Act is pending before the SC and the five-member empowered committee is yet to complete its study.