New Mullaperiyar dam: Kerala offers to pay, Tamil Nadu can pick the site

Chennai: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has reiterated Kerala’s demand for a new dam at Mullaperiyar, offering to bear the entire cost of its construction and leave the decision on its location to Tamil Nadu.

Satheesan strongly raised the issue at the Southern Chief Ministers’ conference held in Chennai. State Industry Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty also participated in the meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

During the meeting, Satheesan said Kerala was willing to bear the entire cost of constructing a new dam. He also offered to leave the decision on where the new dam should be built entirely to Tamil Nadu.

Kerala further assured that the water from the new dam could be allocated entirely to Tamil Nadu. The proposals were put forward based on Kerala’s position: “Water for Tamil Nadu, safety for Kerala.”

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu reiterated its previous stance on the Mullaperiyar issue. Its primary demand is to raise the water level of the existing dam to 152 feet.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay said at the meeting that raising the water level to 152 feet was necessary to meet the state’s agricultural requirements.

The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, as well as the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

The council serves as a forum for resolving issues and disputes between the Centre and the member states and Union Territories, according to the Union government.

River water-sharing issues involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu and Keralam are among the ongoing disputes