Kerala all-party meeting calls for new dam

Kerala should press for a new dam to solve the current tangle over the 111-year-old Mullaperiyar dam when the state holds talks with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu at the behest of the Union Government on November 29.

This was decided at an all-party meeting, held here yesterday to discuss the Mullaperiyar issue.

The meeting also resolved that the state should stand firm on maintaining status quo on Kerala's position of retaining storage level at 136 feet.

Concern

Kerala would try its best to convince the Supreme Court, the Union Government and Tamil Nadu on the safety aspects of the old dam if the level was raised to more than 136 feet, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said.

A demand for scrapping the Mullaperiyar agreement, entered into between Kerala and Tamil Nadu for 999 years, was also made at the meeting. Political parties expressed concern on the present storage level at the dam which stood above 138 feet.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, while extending support to the government, said the government failed to take any legal action under the Kerala Dam Safety Bill even after the water level rose above 136 feet.