Dam row: Kerala, TN stick to stand before SC panel

Kerala today told the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on Mullaperiyar Dam issue that it was agreeable to formation of an independent committee for regulation of waters if a new dam is built, while Tamil Nadu rejected any move to build a new structure outright.

Kerala today told the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on Mullaperiyar Dam issue that it was agreeable to formation of an independent committee for regulation of waters if a new dam is built, while Tamil Nadu rejected any move to build a new structure outright.

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Both Tamil Nadu and Kerala filed their responses in writing before the Committee headed by former chief justice of India A S Anand today. In its response, Kerala said "it is agreeable to the Constitution of an Independent Committee - where the representatives of both the States and Union (Government) are made part of it."

The response was filed after the Committee had on Monday asked both states to give their respective stand on the question of constitution of an independent committee for regulation of waters from the New Dam - proposed by Kerala. In sharp contrast to Kerala's stand, Tamil Nadu vehemently opposed the idea to build a new dam and strongly contended that the 116-year-old existing dam was "strong" and there was no danger.

It also said the question of a new dam does not arise at all when the existing structure is "sound and safe", sources told PTI. In its response, Tamil Nadu also complained that Kerala was not providing "full supply of water" to the state.

Kerala said that a joint committee can handle the regulation of waters from a new dam as is being done in the case of Parabmikulam Aliyar Projet and Sirvuani Projects by both states. The committee will have an internal meeting on January 24 and 25 and is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court by February.