Kerala to take up issue with empowered panel

KOCHI: Irked by the negative approach of Empowered Committee member C D Thatte during the inspection of the Mullaperiyar dam, Kerala may take up the issue with the Empowered Committee or the apex court.A final decision in this regard will be taken during a high-level meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.   Meanwhile, the Centre’s decision to postpone the formation of an expert panel under the National Disaster Management Authority has come as another setback for the state. The panel was meant to prepare a contingency plan on the dam. “During the visit at the dam, Thatte has been giving instructions to TN officials on the measures to be  taken for strengthening the dam. He was acting like a spokesperson for Tamil Nadu. There was a clear negative attitude towards Kerala. “We may have to take up this with the Panel or the Apex Court. The final decision on this  would be taken during a meeting to be chaired  by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,” said one of the officials who represented Kerala before the Panel.Meanwhile, Justice K T Thomas, who represents Kerala in the Empowered Committee, said that a  decision regarding this would be taken collectively. “Kerala has not filed anything regarding this issue so far. A decision would be taken collectively by all the five members.“Also we need to hear what Thatte has to say. Making an opinion before that would be inappropriate,” Thomas  said.