Tamil Nadu in ferment over Mullaperiyar water level
Nov 25, 2006 - 1:36:14 AM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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The state Bharatiya Janata party and MDMK's Vaiko have suggested that the centre take control of the dam. Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said Karunanidhi should immediately withdraw his party's support to the central government if it does not act on the Supreme Court order in the case.
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By RxPG News Service,
[RxPG] Chennai, Nov 24 - Agitated farmers and political activists in Tamil Nadu and Kerala resorted to violent protests Friday over raising the height of the Mullaperiyar dam, which is located in Kerala's Idukki district but irrigates vast tracts in Tamil Nadu, even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi urged for 'calm' on the issue.
According to reports here, Karunanidhi may not attend the Nov 29 talks in New Delhi with Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on the issue
Tamil Nadu farmers resorted to a road blockade at many areas around the dam and DMK cadres burnt an effigy of Achuthanandan at Kanyakumari. Similar protests were held at many places bordering Kerala.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation - suspended its inter-state bus services to Tamil Nadu. A KSRTC bus was stoned in Kanyakumari district.
Kerala is opposed to raising the storage level of the 111-year-old Mullaperiyar dam above 136 feet. It is also opposed to Tamil Nadu generating power from the dam water.
The Mullaperiyar river water irrigates west Coimbatore, Cumbum, Theni, west Virudhnagar, west Tirunelveli and the west Kanyakumari farm belt of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu wants the dam water level to be raised to 142 feet, a level which was okayed by the Supreme Court this February.
Since the past few days, farmers, traders and DMK, Congress and Left party activists have been staging protests on behalf of the two states, blocking highways to Kerala along the border districts in Coimbatore, Theni and Kanyakumari and attacking vehicles.
Sabarimala pilgrims, the most frequent travellers at this time of the year along this sector, have been caught in the traffic upsets since Thursday.
Out-bound trucks are stranded in the border areas in Palakkad district due to protests in Tamil Nadu.
AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition J. Jayalalitha condemned the Kerala stand. In a statement here, she said that after her government had filed a case in the Supreme Court, the Kerala government passed an amendment in the assembly not to raise the dam level.
The former chief minister said the Nov 29 talks between Kerala and Tamil Nadu 'will not benefit the state's farmers'.
Karunanidhi said in a statement: 'I appeal to all to have faith in our commitment - and not to resort to such agitation.'
On Thursday, Karunanidhi had written to prime minister Manmohan Singh seeking central intervention to restrain Kerala from issuing statements on the dam that he said were 'provocative'.
He has threatened to boycott the Nov 29 talks, protesting the Kerala government's move to get a team of naval divers to check the safety of the dam.
Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasamy has, meanwhile, assured Kerala: 'Tamil Nadu has no intention of generating electricity at the dam. It was only fighting for the cause of farmers of the five districts who depend on the dam water for irrigation.'
Karunanidhi has said the state will approach the Supreme Court directly and place before it all that has happened after its February order.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress has given up plans to visit the Mullaperiyar dam and appealed to the central government on behalf of the DMK on the issue.
The state Bharatiya Janata party and MDMK's Vaiko have suggested that the centre take control of the dam. Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said Karunanidhi should immediately withdraw his party's support to the central government if it does not act on the Supreme Court order in the case.
P. Nedumaran, convenor Mullaperiyar Dam Rights Restoration Committee, Friday called for a state-wide agitation on Dec 4, in which 'the Tamil organisations, MDMK, DPI, farmers associations' will participate.
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