Opposition, Kerala government clash over Mullaperiyar dam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition and the ruling front clashed over Mullaperiyar dam in the assembly on Monday. While government claimed that a new dam is possible only with the consent of Tamil Nadu and a consensus must be reached as both states were moving forward cordially, the opposition slammed it by saying that government has been giving enough loopholes to TN to use against Kerala in court. This is affecting the state’s demand for a new dam and reduction in the water level in the existing dam, it added.
“The people of our state and TN have to coexist in brotherhood. There should be a consensus in all matters as people from both states cannot live in isolation within the four boundaries,” said CM Pinarayi Vijayan. He said that government and opposition should stand together, like before, and the assembly had passed four resolutions in this regard in 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2014. But, the present opposition seems to have a different view on this matter, he said.
Vijayan said his statement ‘there are no issues at present’ was made to avert unnecessary public fear. Water resources minister Roshy Augustine said that TN has started giving advance intimations to state on water release from Mullaperiyar due to the strong intervention by Kerala. He added that the Supreme Court also agreed to hear Kerala’s stand on the expert committee decisions on Nov 11, which would not have been possible without the state’s continued interventions.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan countered that though the matter is of common interest, the present government in Dec 2011–which was in opposition then– had conducted a human chain on Mullaperiyar issue, demanding that the water level be brought down to 120ft. How can the same people now express relief over the court’s directive to limit water level to 139.5ft, he asked. Satheesan said that at the latest meeting of the high-powered committee on Mullaperiyar, state’s representative agreed that the existing dam in Mullaperiyar is safe structurally, hydrologically and seismologically till 142ft.
He pointed out that in 2018 itself opposition had warned that the findings of central water commission (CWC) that was taking a stand against the interests of Kerala shouldn’t be depended on for justifying the government for dam management during 2018 floods as CWC stand could be detrimental to state’s interests in case of Mullaperiyar.
Raising the matter as a leave for adjournment motion, former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala stated that government had no specific stand in the case of Mullaperiyar despite several warnings, including the UN University finding that Mullaperiyar is one among the six dams to be decommissioned across the world.
If there is no threat to the dam, as claimed by the CM, what is the need for a new dam? Government must take up the initiative for a new dam and an all-party team from both states should sit together and discuss the matter, he asked.
The opposition walked out after the speaker refused to admit the adjournment motion on the basis of the explanation given by Vijayan and Augustine.