THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has stressed the importance of maintaining cordial ties between Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the wake of the Mullaperiyar issue controversy. Any attempt to create discord between the people of the two states will be dealt sternly. “Any violent act will be put down with an iron hand,’’ he said. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Mullaperiyar -the Way Forward’, here on Monday. The Chief Minister reminded people that peace should be maintained and they should not be swayed by passions.‘’All should exercise restraint on Mullaperiyar issue. Not only the State Government and political parties but all Malayalees are unanimous that waters due to Tamil Nadu should be ensured in an uninterrupted manner. But the state cannot neglect the safety concerns of the people here over the dam. Kerala’s stance has gained wide acceptance nationwide,’’ Chandy said. ‘’Water is crucial for Tamil Nadu and likewise the safety of the dam is very important for Kerala. There cannot be any compromise on both issues,’’ he said. “I had met Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O Paneerselvam at Bangalore on Sunday at the State Finance Ministers meet, and apprised him of Kerala’s stance. The talks were quite reassuring and promising,’’ Chandy said. “It is hoped that Tamil Nadu will appreciate Kerala’s stance soon,’’ he added. Expressing deep anxiety about reports of attacks on Keralites and their property across the border, Chandy said that this was the result of a viscous campaign by certain vested interests in Tamil Nadu. “Tamil Nadu officials are extending all assistance to Kerala. The situation is being monitored on a day-to-day basis. Tamil Nadu should take special care about it,’’ Chandy said. The Chief Minister said that Kerala is keen to work out an agreement with Tamil Nadu through bipartite talks or legislative procedure or through judicial settlement. “The Tamil Nadu Assembly had recently raised apprehensions whether that state will continue to get waters from Mullaperiyar and that the outcry in Kerala was intended to ensure more water in the Idukki reservoir. We’re ready to give any undertaking on the issue. We’ve no hidden agenda,” Chandy reiterated. ‘’Waters would be ensured to Tamil Nadu but the security for Kerala should be addressed first. We deeply care for genuine needs of Tamil Nadu just like for our own cause. All other issues shall be discussed later,’’ he said. Delivering the keynote address, former Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran wondered whether Tamil Nadu could guarantee that the existing dam in Mullaperiyar will outlive 863 years, which forms the remaining tenure of the 999 years mentioned in the pre-Independence accord on the dam with Kerala. “It is a fact that emotional outburts on the Mullaperiyar issue will defeat Kerala’s cause. Tamil Nadu is changing the dimension of the issue by raising unrelated demands like seeking merger of Idukki district with Tamil Nadu. Given the Dravidian party politics in Tamil Nadu, a political consensus on the issue like the one arrived in Kerala may not emerge in that state,’’ he feared.‘’Had it been otherwise, the Mullaperiyar issue would have been settled within five minutes,’’ he added. The seminar, organised by Institute of Social Research and Action (ISRA), was presided over by Palode Ravi MLA.The Chief Minister also released the book ‘Mullaperiyar - Why the Demand for a New Dam’ written by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, who is the chairman of ISRA, by handing over a copy to N K Premachandran. Environmental activist C R Neelakantan, noted poet V Madhusoodanan Nair, ISRA atron Sundar Balan and others also spoke. ISRA secretary Pazhakulam Madhu welcomed the gathering and Ranjit Balan proposed a vote of thanks. A technical session followed the inaugural ceremony.
Comments
0 comment