Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday expressed his concern over the incidents of violence in border areas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam issue and asked the people and leaders of both the states to
maintain calmness. He told a delegation of Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu that he was “very much worried” over the recent developments.
Meanwhile, the MPs’ delegation brought to the prime minister’s attention the impression that the Centre was not doing enough to cool the tempers over the issue.
“The Prime Minister told us that he was very much worried over the issue and that he wanted officials of both states to meet first. He also noted that Tamil Nadu boycotted last week’s meeting and assured us that further steps would be taken,” Virudhunagar MP Manicka Tagore said.
The MPs also bought to the PM’s attention the “acute” power shortage in TN and asked him to take steps to operationalise the agitation-hit Koodankulam nuclear power plant. The MPs told Dr Singh that several places in TN were facing power cuts.