http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2707338.ece
Special Assembly session on December 15
We have nothing against people of Kerala, says Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
A special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on December 15, to express the solidarity of the people and all political parties and to pass a resolution that the state will not give up our rights over Mullaperiyar, because of the imaginary threat to the safety and security of the dam, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said on Sunday.
In a statement here, she said the issue of Mullaperiyar Dam was pending before the Supreme Court and her government believed that the solution to this problem lied in presenting sound technical and scientific data to the Supreme Court and in convincing the Court about the justness of our stand.
"As a result, I have been appealing to the people of Tamil Nadu to eschew emotions and to be rational at all times. I am one with you and share the same emotions and strongly believe in peace and prosperity for my people and the Country," Ms. Jayalalithaa said.
Calling upon the people of Tamil Nadu not to get carried away emotionally, she said "Let us show to the world that we do not believe in violence and hatred."
She said even if there were only a few individuals who were in trouble or anybody in the State who had problems, she and her government were first to respond.
"With regard to the present issue, neither my people nor I and my Government have got anything against the people of Kerala or their Government. We have no quarrel with the people of Kerala. Therefore, destroying their properties or causing injury to them and in the process also causing ourselves pain and hardship is not a solution," she stressed.
She appealed to the people to allow the government to handle the issue scientifically and logically.
"It is my earnest appeal to all the agitating people of the border areas not to precipitate the situation and to disperse immediately," she added.
DMK protest
Meanwhile, the DMK announced that it would form a human chain in support of the demand for increasing the water level from 136 feet to 142 at Mullaperiyar, on December 14 instead of December 15 in view of the special session of the Assembly. This protest would be held in Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Dindigul, Madurai and Theni districts, the party said.
Keywords: Mullaiperiyar issue, Mullaiperiyar dam, dam safety
NEWS » STATES » KERALA
PATHANAMTHITTA, December 12, 2011Human angle of dam issue being eclipsed: Chandy
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has alleged that certain vested interests are trying to portray the Mullaperiyar dam issue as an inter-State dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu with a view to sidelining its human angle.
Mr. Chandy was addressing his eighth district-level mass contact programme at the St. Stephen's church ground here on Monday.
He said the Kerala government was for an amicable solution to the issue at the earliest. The threat to the safety of the dam has created a scare among the people of Kerala. He expressed the hope that the people of Tamil Nadu and their government are aware of the need to ensure the safety of millions of people residing downstream of the dam.
The Chief Minister said Kerala was united in its resolution to ensure the safety of the dam. No one in Kerala has opposed the government's stance that the supply of water to Tamil Nadu should continue as of now. He reiterated his government's stance to provide adequate supply of water to Tamil Nadu and ensure the safety of the people of Kerala. He hoped that Tamil Nadu would take the Kerala people's deep concern over the safety of the old dam in all its seriousness.
He said the people of Kerala had been maintaining self-restraint in the Mullaperiyar issue even though they were facing provocations from certain quarters.
POLICY CHANGES
The Chief Minister said his ongoing mass contact programme had proved to be a big success and the huge people's participation in it was a testimony to it. United efforts by people's representatives, government employees, and the people have made the programme a big success, he said adding that unity could yield wonderful results.
Mr. Chandy said it was not fair to blame employees alone for the problems attached to various government departments and redressal of public grievances. There would be a review of the various policies concerning the people on the basis of the mass contact programmes in all 14 districts.
K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA, presided over the inaugural function. Adoor Prakash, Health Minister; P.J. Kurien, Congress chief whip in the Rajya Sabha; Anto Antony, MP; Mathew T. Thomas and Raju Abraham, MLAs; Babu George, district panchayat president; and P. Venugopal, District Collector, spoke.
Keywords: Kerala, Mullaperiyar issue, Oommen Chandy, Mass contact programme, Inter-State relations
Take timely action on Mullaperiyar: DMK tells Centre
In a direct attack on the UPA government, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today said the Centre is "known for belated decisions" but it should at least "now take timely action" to resolve the escalating row between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam.
"The Centre, known for taking belated decisions on all issues, should at least now take a timely decision as any delay will lead to disastrous consequences," the DMK president said.
His remarks came in his address to party workers at the end of a day long fast by DMK, a key UPA constituent, demanding that the Centre prevail upon Kerala to accept the Supreme Court verdict to raise the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.
He came down heavily on some people in Kerala whipping up a fear psychosis among its people that the dam might burst.
Some politicians in Kerala with an eye on the coming assembly bypolls are spreading falsehood the dam was weak.
"Do not play with the unity of the people. Do not get emotional. Preserve the unity and integrity of the nation," he appealed to the people of Kerala.
Mr. Karunanidhi asserted that the dam was strong enough to hold water up to 142 feet as Tamil Nadu had taken several steps to strengthen it.
He pointed out that the Centre had in 2002 filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that it had accepted the report of an expert panel that the dam was strong and could store water up to 142 feet.
The DMK is also organising a human chain protest on December 15 in five districts benefiting from the waters of the Mullaperiyar dam, located in Kerala's Idukki district, but controlled by Tamil Nadu under a 999-year lease.
The Mullaperiyar dam row has triggered fresh tension between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the issue of building a new dam in place of the existing 116-year-old structure. Kerala insists that a new dam is the only solution, but Tamil Nadu maintains that it is as good and safe as a new one.
The increase in tension had led to attacks on Tamils and Keralites in some parts on both sides of the state borders.
Day-long fast
Earlier the DMK leaders observed a day-long fast on Monday to draw the Centre's attention towards the vexed Mullaperiyar Dam issue and also assert the state's rights.
Party general secretary K. Anbazhagan kicked off the protest at DMK headquarters "Anna Arivalayam" here in which many party cadres participated.
Similar fast was held in other parts of the state.
A human chain in five districts receiving water from the dam is scheduled on Wednesday.
Keywords: Mullaperiyar dam issue, DMK, one-day fast, Anna Arivalayam
NEWS » STATES » TAMIL NADU
CHENNAI, December 12, 2011Supreme Court ruling is final: Karunanidhi
DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Sunday wondered what would happen to democracy if every State government went on introducing new legislation to nullify Supreme Court orders.
"I am yet to find an answer to the question," he said referring to the law enacted by the Kerala government in 2006 in the wake of the Supreme Court's February 2006 order allowing Tamil Nadu to raise the water level at Mullaperiyar Dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.
"The ruling of the Supreme Court is final on every issue. Is it correct on the part of Kerala government to bring in a legislation to nullify the order?" he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi said if the Supreme Court had questioned the Kerala government about the new legislation, Tamils would not have been targeted in the State. He said the DMK had organised a fast and a human chain to remind the people of Kerala about the Supreme Court order and to secure protection for the dam by Central security forces.
He also recalled the Supreme Court's ruling that there was no basis for Kerala's argument that the dam was too weak to hold 142 feet of water and the order restraining Kerala and its officers from causing any obstruction to work by Tamil Nadu for strengthening the dam.
The DMK leader said though he was keen on participating in the protests, his party men had decided against it taking into consideration his health condition.
Keywords: Mullaperiyar dam row, DMK, Karunanidhi
Do not panic, administration tells people
The district administration has asked the people of the district not to panic over the safety concerns emanating from the state of the Mullaperiyar dam.
District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed said that the administration is fully geared to ensure the safety of the people in the event of a crisis. Heads of various departments in the district attended a meeting convened to discuss the issue on Monday.
Irrigation department officials described the present situation of the dams in the district. The water level in the Idamalayar dam has risen to 90 per cent. Full capacity utilisation of the dam will be possible if the water level rises by another 5 per cent.
At present, only one generator is operating at the dam. Mr. Pareed had asked the dam authorities to provide advance information through the media if the outflow of water from the dam is to be increased. The outflow from lower Periyar is under control.
While admitting that a disaster at Mullaperiyar will have far reaching consequences for the district, the Collector assured the people that there is nothing to worry as of now. He urged the people not to be taken in by scare mongering and speculation.
Mr. Pareed said the State government had given adequate instructions to the district authorities. He said that all arrangements had been taken for rehabilitating people in the event of a rise in the water level in the Periyar.
The Collector asked taluk and village-level offices under the revenue department to be on constant alert.
Additional District Magistrate E.K. Sujatha; Assistant Collector Bhandari Swagath Ranbeer Chand; Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) P. Indiradevi; Fort Kochi Revenue Divisional Officer S. Shanavas; Assistant Commissioners of Police Amos Maaman and George Pius; and irrigation department executive engineers K.V. Joly and Harinarayan attended the meeting.
Keywords: Mullaperiyar issue, Mullaiperiyar protests
No going back on new dam: Oommen
The Kerala government would organise the required resources to construct a new dam in place of the over a centuty-old Mullaiperiyar dam, despite financial difficulties, Chief Minster Oommen Chandy said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of his mass contact programme for Kollam district, Mr. Chandy said that frequent tremors in the zone of the Mullaperiyar Dam were creating panic and that a new dam was the only solution. "The State government insists on a new dam to replace the existing Mullaperiyar Dam," he said.
Security for Kerala and water for Tamil Nadu would be the committed policy behind the construction of the new dam, Mr. Chandy said. He added that the State government was trying to achieve this with the cooperation of the Central and Tamil Nadu governments, he said.
Keywords: Mullaperiyar issue, Mullaiperiyar protests, new dam, Oommen Chandy
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