Date:28/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/28/stories/2004112808000400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Parambikulam-Aliyar talks inconclusive

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, NOV. 27. The talks between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on review of the Parambikulam-Aliyar inter-State river water agreement, held at Kovalam near here today, did not make much headway.

The Kerala Water Resources Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, and Finance Minister, Vakkom Purushothaman, and their Tamil Nadu counterparts, O. Paneerselvam and C. Ponnaiyan, who led the talks, told presspersons that the discussions were inconclusive.

The Chief Secretaries would meet in Chennai on December 18 to sort out certain technical matters, over which there were differences. The ministerial talks would continue thereafter.

Differences persist

Mr. Radhakrishnan said the two States had come to some understanding on certain matters. However, differences persisted on other issues.

Mr. Ponnaiyan said every issue was discussed cordially. The final decisions would have to be taken by the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. The Ministers declined to elaborate on the issues discussed or the areas of agreement.

The talks were a continuation of the session held at the Chief Ministers' level in Chennai on November 6.

Besides the Ministers, The Tamil Nadu and Kerala Chief Secretaries, Lakshmi Pranesh and Babu Jacob;participated in the talks.