PRIME MINISTER ADVISE KERALA TO CALM ON MULLAPERIYAR

PRIME MINISTER ADVISE KERALA TO CALM ON MULLAPERIYAR

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Tuesday,29^th November,2011, urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise the Kerala government not to precipitate the Mullaperiyar Dam issue any further.In a letter to the prime minister, released to the media here, Jayalalithaa said: "It has been reported in the media that the Government of Kerala continues its shrill pitch and maintains that the Mullai Periyar Dam is not safe and that the only solution would be to construct a new dam in spite of the pending suit in the Supreme Court."

Referring to the reports of vandalism against Tamil Nadu State Transport buses across the state, Jayalalithaa said: "While a lot of restraint from our side is being exercised, it would be prudent to advise the Government of Kerala to ensure that miscreants refrain from disturbing the public order and disrupting normal life.""I once again reiterate that the retrofitted Mullai Periyar Dam is safe and is functioning as good as new. I am of the view that the Government of Kerala should be advised to desist from this approach for building a new dam and not to escalate the issue, when the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court and the Empowered Committee," the letter notes.

                                                              Prof. John Kurakar