New Dam will be built at Rs 600 crore cost: Mani

KOZHIKODE:  Finance Minister K M Mani has reiterated that Kerala government would build a new dam in Mullaperiyar at any cost. The new dam - which will come 1600 feet away from the present dam - would be built at a cost of Rs 600 crore and the amount will be allocated in the next budget, he said.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Kerala Congress (M) district convention here on Monday, he urged the immediate intervention of Prime Minister in the issue. “Mullaperiyar dam is situated in an earthquake zone and the water level in the dam should be lowered to 120 feet immediately. The state government is ready to supply water to Tamil Nadu from the Mullaperiyar dam and this would be assured in written format.The government has all  rights to build a new dam in the state’s territory with its own fund,” he said. Kerala government is responsible for the safety of lives and properties of 40 lakhs of people in the five districts. The Mullaperiyar dam is creating panic among the people of the four districts of Tamil Nadu too. The experts opined that the dam was not capable to store the water in the present level, he said.  Answering a question Mani said the agreement on Mullaperiyar dam had expired and Tamil Nadu should not take the friendly attitude on the issue as weakness. Kerala Congress will analyse the responses of Centre towards the protest of the party’s MP in parliament. The party’s high level committee will meet on November 30 in Thiruvananthapuram to chalk out future protests, added Mani.