Date:28/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/28/stories/2006112803770800.htm

Tamil Nadu - Others

DPA seeks Manmohan's intervention

On Mullaperiyar dam issue

New Delhi: The Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) partners on Monday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in restraining Kerala from placing any hurdles in raising the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam.

A delegation of DPA parties comprising the DMK, PMK, Congress, CPI (M) and CPI called on Dr. Singh and urged him to restrain Kerala from obstructing implementation of the Supreme Court order permitting Tamil Nadu to raise the water level from 136 ft to 142 ft.

The team, also comprising Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu, asked the Centre to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force to guard the dam.

``Raising the water level to 142 ft as ordered by the Supreme Court is absolutely necessary to irrigate... about two lakh acres in the drought-prone districts of Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram,'' it said in a memorandum.

They said when issue of dam safety was settled by the Supreme Court on February 27, 2006, the Kerala Government chose to deploy naval divers to check its safety in ``utter disregard'' of the apex court order.

Union Minister G.K. Vasan said the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing. Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz was taking steps to reach an amicable settlement, he said. — PTI