New Delhi: Kerala on Friday told the Supreme
Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on Mullaperiyar Dam issue
that it was agreeable to formation of an independent committee
for regulation of waters if a new dam is built, while Tamil
Nadu rejected any move to build a new structure outright.
Both Tamil Nadu and Kerala filed their responses in
writing before the Committee headed by former Chief Justice of
India A S Anand today.
In its response, Kerala said "it is agreeable to the
Constitution of an Independent Committee - where the
representatives of both the States and Union (Government) are
made part of it."
The response was filed after the Committee had on Monday
asked both states to give their respective stand on the
question of constitution of an independent committee for
regulation of waters from the New Dam - proposed by Kerala.
In sharp contrast to Kerala`s stand, Tamil Nadu
vehemently opposed the idea to build a new dam and strongly
contended that the 116-year-old existing dam was "strong" and
there was no danger.
It also said the question of a new dam does not arise at
all when the existing structure is "sound and safe", sources
told PTI.
In its response, Tamil Nadu also complained that Kerala
was not providing "full supply of water" to the state.
Kerala said that a joint committee can handle the
regulation of waters from a new dam as is being done in the
case of Parabmikulam Aliyar Projet and Sirvuani Projects by
both states.
The committee will have an internal meeting on January 24
and 25 and is expected to submit its report to the Supreme
Court by February.
PTI
