Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday urged an all-party delegation from Kerala to create a cordial atmosphere between the state and Tamil Nadu to enable his intervention to resolve the Mullaperiyar dam dispute. Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, the 23-member delegation, led by chief minister
Oommen Chandy and Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan, decided to appeal to the members of their respective parties and the people of the state to call-off the agitations over the issue.
“The Prime Minister has agreed to intervene in the issue taking into consideration the safety of the people (in case of dam’s collapse) and asked to put an end to the conflict (in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu),” said Mr Chandy.
The delegation conveyed to Dr Singh the state’s concern over the safety of the 116-year-old dam in view of the recent tremors and heavy rain in the area. In a memorandum submitted to him, the delegation sought Dr Singh’s direction to Tamil Nadu to lower the dam’s water level to 120 feet. Saying that a new dam is the only solution to the issue, the delegation asserted that Kerala will continue providing same share of water to Tamil Nadu.
Mr Achuthanandan of CPI(M) responded to the Prime Minister saying that Kerala has been raising its demand for a new dam at Mullaperiyar in a “Gandhian way.” “We are committed to maintain peaceful atmosphere,” he said.