The new Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s policy on the Mullaperiyar issue is no different form that of the previous government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has clarified.
In written reply to a question by V.D. Satheesan, Anwar Sadath, Eldos Kunnappally, and Hibi Eden regarding the new government’s policy on Mullaperiyar, Mr. Vijayan said the former government too had held the view that a new dam be constructed to alleviate the fears of people and also in the light of the resolutions passed by the Assembly. The State government’s stand on the issue has been consistent over the years and there had been no statements from the part of the Chief Minister contrary to that position, Mr. Vijayan said.
The Assembly had in 2009, 2012 and 2014 passed unanimous resolutions on the issue, asking the Centre to intervene and take the lead in reaching an agreement between Kerala and Tamil Nadu on constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar so that the needs of both States — water for Tamil Nadu and protection to the life and property of Keralites — could be met satisfactorily.
ResolutionsThe resolutions had pointed out how the dam was posing a threat to the life of over 40 lakh Keralites residing downstream of the dam and that constructing a new dam was the only and permanent solution for settling the issues raised by both States.
The demand for the Chief Minister to clarify the government’s stand on Mullaperiyar had been raised by P.T. Thomas, N.A. Nellikkunnu and others again on Wednesday in the Assembly.
