Tamil parties protest against proposed dam on Mullaperiyar river by Kerala Govt
Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): Activists of Tamil Nadu's regional political
parties, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) and Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK), staged a demonstration on Thursday to protest against Kerala Government's plans to build
a dam on Mullaiperiyar River. The activists also protested against Union Environment
Minister Jairam Ramesh, who has reportedly given the green signal to Kerala Government
to conduct a survey for a new dam across the river. "The Supreme Court had passed
an order that the Mullaiperiyar dam height to be increased to 143 feet, despite
the orders passed by the Supreme Court, Kerala Government is violating the court
orders and are now in the process of constructing a new dam across mullaiperiyar
river," said Pannerselvam, one of the protestors. "The Environment Minister Jairam
Ramesh had given permission to Kerala Government to proceed further, this will
drastically affect the water source of people in Tamil Nadu," he added. Protestors
also said that the Kerala Government should allow the Tamil Nadu Government to
increase the height of Mullaiperiyar dam as per the Supreme Court orders. The
existing dam over the river located in Kerala has been a bone of contention between
the two States, as it is operated, controlled and used by Tamil Nadu as per a
century-old agreement. Tamil Nadu Government has in the past demanded Kerala Government
to implement a Supreme Court order -allowing the level of the dam to be raised
to 142 feet. But, Kerala Government is apprehensive, as they believe that a higher
storage would prove detrimental to the safety of the 112-Year-old-dam endangering
the lives of about 35 lakh people downstream. Kerala Government, has over the
years, demanded the construction of a new dam citing safety concerns, however
it is strongly opposed by Tamil Nadu Government, as it believes the move could
affect its water supply.
