DMK objects to Kerala's stand on Mullaperiyar dam controversy

Chennai, Jul 15 () DMK today objected to Kerala's stand on the Mullaperiyar dam controversy, as party chief M Karunanidhi questioned the 'political contradiction' of the neighbouring state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
His remarks came a day after the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala favouring construction of a new dam in place of the existing Mullaperiyar reservoir.
Karunanidhi recalled that Vijayan had earlier said that his government did not believe in the previous Congress-UDF dispensation's stand of a new dam in place of the existing structure and that he batted for talks with Tamil Nadu to amicably settle the interstate row.
Vijayan's latest statement was "contradictory" to what he had stated earlier even as a central team had recently vouched for the strength of the dam, Karunanidhi said.
"What explanation are the Leftist comrades, who discuss in detail about every social and economic contradiction, going to give to this political contradiction created by the Kerala Chief Minister?," he said while replying to a set of queries in the party mouthpiece 'Murasoli.'
Vijayan's statement in the Assembly amounted to creating "unnecessary problems", the DMK leader added.
In reply to an 'unstarred question' in the assembly, Vijayan had said the new government's policy was also for construction of new dam by examining the legal and technical feasibility.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have for long been at loggerheads over raising the water level of the dam.
The Supreme Court on May 2, 2014, had held that the 120 year old dam is safe and allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet. It had struck down a law promulgated by Kerala, declaring the dam as endangered and fixing the water level at 136 feet.
The dam is situated in Thekkady district in Kerala and is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu government. SA APR KIS