Periyar dam issue: TN may approach SC

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 28. The Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, has made it clear to his Kerala counterpart that the Tamil Nadu Government was left with no alternative but to approach the Supreme Court for a suitable solution on the issue of raising the water level of the Periyar dam.

Since Kerala had ``adamantly'' refused to accept without reason or rhyme the recommendations of the Central Water Commission to raise the reservoir level to 145 ft, no unanimous decision could be reached between the two States which was most unexpected, Mr. Karunanidhi said in a letter sent today to the Kerala Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar.

The letter was in response to a communication Mr. Nayanar addressed to Mr. Karunanidhi on April 24 urging the latter to intervene and dissuade the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association and a section of people from conducting the stir following Kerala's refusal to allow the raising the water level of Periyar dam.

Voicing his disappointment and regret over Kerala's ``adamant stand'', Mr. Karunanidhi said negotiations conducted with such a stance would not lead to any solution. Hence, his government felt it had no option but to seek redress from the apex court after apprising it of the details of recent discussions held between the two States, he said.

The stir by the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association and a section of the people, Mr. Karunanidhi said ``reflect their disappointment over the denial of justice due to them on the Periyar dam issue''. However, he had always desired a healthy relationship between the people of the two States. ``I firmly hope that the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala will continue to safeguard on both sides the cooperation and humanism,'' he said.

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Section  : National
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