Making it clear that Kerala would not agree to the project at any cost, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the Assembly today that repeated pressure from the state resulted in National Water Development Agency (NWDA) removing Pampa-Achenkovil linking with Vaipar from its priority list.
Government would continue its opposition to the project by presenting before the forum concerned, the adverse impact it could cause to the state, he said.
Besides, studies conducted on the two rivers by experts have also found that there was no excess water.
In the case of Mullaperiyar dam issue, the state had "certain weaknesses" because it has a long-standing agreement with neighbouring Tamil Nadu. But in this case, there was no need for anxiety as waters and rivers are state subjects and the Centre could not proceed on the matter without consent of the states concerned. "We are constitutionally protected in this issue," he said.
He demanded that steps be taken to protect the interests of the state by resisting 'influences' on the Centre, especially in the wake of a Supreme court verdict on the issue.