Coimbatore: Kerala today said it wanted a
solution to the long pending Mullaperiyar dam issue in a
"brotherly manner" and political leaders should not
precipitate the matter with their statements.
"People of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are like brothers and
sisters. When there is in issue between brothers and sisters,
it should be discussed only in brotherly manner. That is what
we expect," Kerala Forest Minister Benoy Viswam told reporters
here.
He was reacting to a question on MDMK leader Vaiko`s
remarks that Kerala would not get vegetables and other
commodities from Tamil Nadu if the state was deprived of
water from Mullaperiyar dam.
Kerala`s decision to construct a new dam in place of
the existing one would only "break the wall" of national
integration and create unrest in both states, Vaiko had said.
Stating that the needs and sentiments of people of
both states were important, Viswam said Kerala did not want to
create a big issue out of Mullaperiyar.
According to a scientific study report, the dam was
not safe and lives of over five lakh people were under threat.
"So a solution is a must and we look for an alternate
measure."
"People and Tamil Nadu Government will understand the
problem, since Kerala is not an enemy of Tamil Nadu."
Kerala government had already finished laying a solar
fencing on a 10 KM stretch on the railway track on Tamil
Nadu-Kerala border on its side, and works were in progress in
another 25 KM, to prevent elephants from crossing on to the
track and hit by trains.
He said though Kerala had approached the Centre for
this purpose, there was no response. Kerala was willing to
work with Tamil Nadu for completing the solar fencing on its
side, to check the fatalities, he added.
PTI
