THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As political differences have tapered down to a considerable extent on the Mullaperiyar issue in the state, the government is all set to take a comprehensive stance in tune with a general mindset in the state to realise a new dam at any cost.The Chief Minister’s proposed meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underscores the concerns of the state on the dam issue. Moves are on to convene an emergency session of the Assembly to take up the issue while at the same time trying to work out an out-of-the-court settlement with Tamil Nadu.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s poser to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that if the `20,000-crore Koodamkulam project is being opposed there on the ground of safety risk to people, how could Tamil Nadu Government downplay the issue of risk to lakhs of people from the 116-year old Mullaperiyar dam is going to be a moot point in deliberations on the issue. Also, that the dam is proposed to be built at Kerala’s own cost and in its own territory after ensuring due share of waters to the neighbouring state, will be a major contention of Kerala.Moreover, the chances of the existing dam surviving in long run is remote and a new structure is imperative is another contention that will work in Kerala’s favour. “We have an open mind on the issue. No water dispute is involved on the Mullaperiyar issue now. Kerala is rightfully concerned about the safety of its people,’’ Oommen Chandy said.“The government will take the entire people and political leadership into confidence on the issue,” Chandy said. “We will approve any decision from the Supreme Court. But a situation has emerged wherein the state cannot wait till a final verdict. A new dam is the only answer and prior to it the water level in Mullaperiyar should be brought down to 120 ft,” he said. “The role of the Prime Minister is important since he can very well prevail on Tamil Nadu higlighting the concerns of the people in downstream areas of the dam,” Law Minister K M Mani said. “The only thing which the Centre should do is to give environmental clearance for a new dam,” he said. On Wednesday, the State Government initiated measures to bring down the water level in various reservoirs downstream the swollen Mullaperiyar including the Idukki archdam and go in for augmented power generation. Though Kerala has received legal opinion that the Assembly could pass a unanimous resolution to scrap the Mullaperiyar treaty itself, it is understood that Mani is for more concerted action.“The Mullaperiyar agreement is one between a lessor and lessee. It is not in force in strict terms, for, it has not been revived at the end of 30 years after a renewed pact was inked in 1970. However, any resolution passed by the Assembly to annul the treaty under Article 252 should have a similar course in Tamil Nadu also. This is not the stand to be adopted at this stage. The issue now is that the Centre is duty-bound to intervene in the issue in the context of recurring tremors in the Mullaperiyar region,” Mani told Express.
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