TN sole owner of Mullaperiyar dam, asserts Jayalalithaa

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CM J. Jayalalithaa alleged Thursday collaboration between the Kerala government and the Union ministry of science and technology to install a “real-time monitoring system for water buildup” at the Mullaiperiyar dam.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the move was “yet another attempt to exacerbate fears in Kerala about the safety of the dam”.

Ms Jayalalithaa said the “unilateral action” of the Kerala government in association with the Centre and without TN consent was “blatant violation of the principle of federalism and Constitutional framework”.
Recalling a 2006 SC order, she said the Kerala attempt was also to present a “fait accompli” to the top court when the matter was sub judice.

CM said TN was the “incontrovertible sole owner” of the Mullaiperiyar dam and urged PM to direct the science and technology ministry to “immediately desist from entering into any agreement with Kerala government and to annul any agreement if already entered into”.

She said the Kerala government’s interference in the management of the dam only strengthened the basis for her earlier request for deployment of central forces (CISF) at the dam site.