Dam row turns into ad war; Jaya calls session

The war of words between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam is slowly moving into the zone of advertisements. In Tamil Nadu, it has goaded chief minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to announce a special assembly session on the dam. HT reports.

The war of words between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam is slowly moving into the zone of advertisements. In Tamil Nadu, it has goaded chief minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to announce a special assembly session on the dam.

HT Image

A day after Jayalalithaa put out a full-page advertisement allaying Kerala's fears on the dam, rival DMK followed suit. Not to be left behind, Kerala is preparing replies to both advertisements within a few days.

The two states have been at loggerheads over the dam, built in 1886. While the dam is located in Kerala, its waters serve Tamil Nadu. Kerala is all for a new dam, which Tamil Nadu is opposing.

On Sunday, announcing the special session slated for December 15, Jayalalithaa said her state would not give up its right because of an "imaginary threat". Her announcement is a reversal of her earlier stand on the issue and is seen to be a result of DMK pressure.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi had lately expressed his dissatisfaction over her handling of the issue. The DMK's full-page advertisement on Sunday, announcing its executive committee resolution, asked for an end to the attacks on Tamils in Kerala and threatened action if the situation continued.

Further, the party has called a one-day fast on December 12 and announced it would form a human chain in five southern districts, the main beneficiaries of the water.

Last week, the Kerala assembly had passed a unanimous resolution for a new dam. On Thursday, the opposition LDF had formed a 208-km human wall demanding decommissioning of the 116-year-old dam.

The border town of Kumily in Kerala, which witnessed violence on Saturday, meanwhile, remained tense on Sunday.