Kerala Assembly turns noisy over TN's claim on dams

The Kerala Assembly witnessed noisy scenes over the claim staked by Tamil Nadu on four dams, including Mullaperiyar, located within the state

The Kerala Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes over the claim staked by Tamil Nadu on four dams, including Mullaperiyar, which are located within the state.

The issue, raised by Jameela Prakasham (JD-S) during question hour, came as an embarrassment to the UDF government, which admitted that Tamil Nadu's claim over the dams made at a meeting of National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) did not come to its notice.

In his response, chief minister Oommen Chandy said he would examine the issue in detail and furnish a reply in the House tomorrow.

Prakasham said Tamil Nadu officials virtually staked claim over the ownership of Mullaperiyar, Thunacadavu, Peruvaripallam and Parmabikkulam dams at a meeting of the NCDS held on December 27 last year. The Kerala official present at the meeting had failed to object to the neighbouring state's claim over these dams located within Kerala, she said.

As a result, the meeting accepted Tamil Nadu's request for incorporating the word "owned" in the national register of large dams, Prakasam said.

She also said last month, on a request by Kerala's Dam Safety Authority, Tamil Nadu government informed the state that Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) group of reservoirs, particularly Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Peruvaripallam dams, were "owned, operated and maintained" by Tamil Nadu and "there is no need for the Kerala Dam Safety Authority to inspect these dams at any point of time."Opposition members rose in protest holding that the Government failed to protect the state's interests.