No change in Government stand on Mullaperiyar dam: Vijayan

In a bid to put a lid on the row over Mullaperiyar dam, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said the LDF government's stand was to have a new dam in place of the existing reservoir, but for that cooperation and help from Tamil Nadu was necessary.
"The government has not gone back from the demands it raised earlier on the Mullaperiyar issue", Vijayan said while addressing a meeting organised to felicitate the council of ministers of the LDF government that came to power on May 25.
There were no differences in the stand of the government and that of the Mullaperiyar Samrakshana Smithi, spearheading agitation for a new dam in place of the present considering its safety.

"The LDF government's and my stand is that a new dam is needed", Vijayan said, adding, but it could happen only with the cooperation and support of the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, with which the state had a long-pending dispute over the dam.
"In this matter confrontation is not the answer with Tamil Nadu". The issue should be resolved through dialogue, he said.
Explaining the position, he said the Supreme Court had stated that the present dam is strong. But, the state govern met did not agree with that.

However, "we have to prove before the Supreme Court that the dam is not safe", he said.

A committee of international experts on dam should study the strength of the dam. The state government would give its proposal to the Centre on this matter after discussions, he said.
"Neither the LDF government nor I have the opinion that there is no need for a new dam. There was no dispute on it", he said.
"We do not want any tension with neighbouring Tamil Nadu. We want to maintain good relations with our neighbour", he said.