Alappuzha/Theni: Kerala on Thursday accused Tamil
Nadu of "not responding positively" to its offer for talks on
the raging Mullaperiyar row as shops and business
establishments remained shut in response to a traders` strike
in five districts of the neighbouring state.
Chief Minister Ommen Chandy said Kerala wanted to solve
the row over the dam amicably through talks, but the response
of Tamil Nadu had "not been positive".
He also took a dig at his Tamil Nadu counterpart
Jayalalithaa saying she was opposing the Koodankulam Nuclear
Power plant citing the safety concerns of local people but not
applying the same yardstick for the Mullaperiyar dam.
Speaking at the mass contact programme in Alappuzha,
Chandy said Kerala did not like to have any tension between
the people of two neighbouring states on this issue.
Kerala has been insisting on a new dam to replace the
116-year old Mullaperiyar dam over safety concerns, a position
which Tamil Nadu, under whose control the reservoir comes,
refuses to accept.
Meanwhile, in the five southern districts of Tamil Nadu
fed by Mullaperiyar dam waters for irrigation, shops and
business establishments downed shutters in response to the
bandh call given by traders` outfits and local chambers of
commerce protesting Kerala`s stand.
PTI
