Kerala sticks to its demand for new dam at Mullaperiyar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Days after the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee said the Mullaperiyar dam was safe, Kerala stuck to its stand that it would not back out from its demand for a new dam to replace the existing 119-year-old structure, over which it is locked in a row with Tamil Nadu.

Kerala's assertion came after the state cabinet meeting which discussed the report of the Empowered Committee on Mullaperiyar dam, which also asked the Kerala government to reconsider its proposal to build a new reservoir.

Briefing reporters, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy claimed that the panel's recommendations favoured the state's demand for a new dam, to which Tamil Nadu is strongly opposed saying interests of its farmers would be affected.

Asked if the panel had requested the state to reconsider its call for the new dam, he said there was no rethinking on the demand as a new dam was essential to ensure safety of the people in downstream areas.

"The state cabinet's assessment is that, though with certain conditions attached, the Empowered Committee has given green signal to Kerala's demand for a new dam. The state will take this stand in the Supreme Court, which is to take a final decision on the matter," Chandy said.