Date:07/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/07/stories/2006080709940100.htm

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Minister for political solution to dam row

Special Correspondent

Asks Tamil Nadu to give up its demand for raising water level in Mullaperiyar

N.K. Premachandran calls for talks on dam issue.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran has favoured a political solution to the Mullaperiyar dam row involving Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

In an article on the issue, released for publication here on Sunday, Mr. Premachandran said Kerala did not wish to prolong the dialogue between the two States, and urged the Tamil Nadu Government to give up its demand for increasing the water level in the dam. The Minister, who visited the dam site on Thursday, said there was enough evidence to show that the dam was getting weakened by the day.

Mr. Premachandran said the State Government would seek the services of Constitution experts, including Harish Salve, to handle the case filed by Tamil Nadu questioning the validity of the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, passed by the Assembly earlier this year.

Decisions on dam safety and adjusting the water level in dams were vested with the Dam Safety Authority. Instead of approaching the authority with appropriate requests, the Tamil Nadu Government had chosen to approach the Supreme Court.

The Minister said the Government would not allow anyone to deflect attention from the main issues. It also did not believe that the Dam Safety Authority was the only final arbiter in all matters. The Kerala Government was of the view that there must be a dialogue between the two States to reach a consensus on sharing of river waters.

Mr. Premachandran also sought a hike in the lease amount on water being used by Tamil Nadu from the Mullaperiyar dam.

Under the agreement, there was a clause for revision of the rate every 30 years. Kerala had not taken the initiative for this on account of the poor condition of the dam.

While the Kerala State Electricity Board gave Rs.520 an acre as lease amount to the State Forest Department for power generation, Tamil Nadu gave only Rs.30 for every acre irrigated using water from Mullaperiyar.

Tamil Nadu was earning around Rs.17 crores from cultivation from areas irrigated using Mullaperiyar waters, and, therefore, there was every justification for a hike in the rate, he contended.