Storage in Mullaperiyar dam will soon be 142 feet: J Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI: Assailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi for his remarks over Mullaperiyar issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said the storage in the dam will soon be increased to 142 feet as per Supreme Court orders and accused him of issuing statements that are tantamount to "instigating" Kerala.

In a statement here, she asserted that it was due to the "efficient government" headed by her that Tamil Nadu got justice in the case involving Kerala in the apex court.

She said Karunanidhi had said that Kerala had moved the apex court seeking review of its May 7 orders allowing Tamil Nadu to raise the water level and a stay on functioning of a Supervisory Committee set up to implement the order and wanted to know the stance of her government.

"Kerala's review petition filed on June 30 does not seek a stay... Kerala has not filed any petition seeking stay on the meetings of the Supervisory Committee till such time its review plea was heard and disposed," she noted.

Maintaining that this was the factual position, Jayalalithaa said, "The people of Tamil Nadu will not forgive Karunanidhi for issuing a statement which is tantamount to instigating Kerala to file such a petition."

She also said as soon as Centre notified the Supervisory Committee complying with the court verdict, Tamil Nadu asked the Union Government to call a meeting of the panel so as to implement the order allowing increasing storage to 142 ft.

Accordingly, the first meeting of the panel was held yesterday at Tiruvananthapuram and the next meeting slated for July 17.

"Karunanidhi is betraying the people of Tamil Nadu," she said, asking him to stop issuing such statements.

Referring to the 90-year old leader's remarks wondering "If a government existed in Tamil Nadu to hold consultations on the issue," she said, "Only due to an efficient government in Tamil Nadu, the state got justice in Mullaperiyar issue, a supervisory committee was set up, meeting of the panel was also scheduled and soon the storage will be increased to 142 ft in accordance with the apex court judgement."