Support raising Mullaperiyar dam to 152 ft: Tamil Nadu to Kerala

CHENNAI: A day after the Supreme Court rejected Kerala's plea to review its May 7 verdict holding as safe the Mullaperiyar dam, Tamil Nadu Assembly today adopted a resolution urging the neighbouring state to extend support to raise it to 152 feet.

"This House urges the Kerala government to extend support to raise the water level in Mullaperiyar dam to 152 feet," the resolution said.

It also urged the Centre to render appropriate advice to Kerala on raising the level.

The apex court had dismissed the Kerala government's plea to review its verdict holding as safe the 120-year-old Mullaperiyar dam and allowing Tamil Nadu to raise water level to 142 feet and ultimately to 152 feet after completion of strengthening measures on the dam.

The Kerala Government yesterday said it would explore legal options to "overcome" the apex court order rejecting the state's review plea.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam also said the neighbouring State should support strengthening the 'Baby dam' and carry out remaining activities in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict.

Noting that raising the level to 142 feet in the dam had made Tamil Nadu people immensely happy, the resolution also thanked and lauded former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and the State government.

Meanwhile, certain amendments in the wording of the resolution sought by DMK member Duraimurugan was not entertained and some words he spoke was also expunged. Protesting this, the DMK members staged a walkout.

Panneerselvam said it was due to the efforts of his party chief Jayalalithaa that the water level was raised to 142 feet.

He alleged that DMK was lackadaisical on the issue while it was in power though the Supreme Court had given an order in early 2006.