Mullaperiyar: TN rejects SC's appeal offer

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Prime Minister was the "most suitable authority" to hammer out a solution to vexed water disputes like Mullaperiyar dam row and wanted to appeal for his intervention but refrained from doing so after Tamil Nadu objected to it.

A five-judge Constitution Bench wanted to make the appeal on the suggestion of Kerala's counsel Harish Salve but Tamil Nadu's lawyer Raju Ramachandran put up a stubborn opposition to the Prime Minister's intervention as the apex court-empowered committee was already seized of the issue.
At the fag end of the hearing held to decide on Tamil Nadu's plea for deployment of CISF at the dam site, Salve suggested the apex court make an appeal to the Prime Minister for convening a meeting of the two states' Chief Ministers to resolve the issue as tribunals, far from solving the problems, have only "increased the temperature."

"Without prejudice to the proceeding before the committee, this court can appeal to the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers to solve the problem," he said.
But the suggestion was opposed by Ramachandran saying it was "too premature" as the committee was seized of the matter.
"It would not be appropriate at this stage when the empowered committee is meeting. It is already seized of the matter," he said.

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TN Assembly passes resolution on Mullaperiyar Dam, blames Kerala

Tamil Nadu has raised the pitch on the Mullaperiyar Dam row with the state Assembly on Thursday passing a resolution unanimously demanding that Kerala should take immediate steps to increase water levels in the dam to 142 feet as per Supreme Court orders.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa moved the resolution which was supported by all the MLAs including those belonging to the DMK and DMDK.
The J Jayalalithaa government accused the Centre of remaining a mute spectator to requests to deploy Central Industrial Security Force personnel at the dam site and rejected Kerala government's claim that an earthquake will damage the 116-year-old structure. The resolution demanded that CISF should be deployed immediately at the dam site.
The resolution also asked Kerala not to disrupt the dam maintenance work being carried out by Tamil Nadu and asserts that Tamil Nadu will not under any circumstance give up on its rights.
During the discussion Jayalalithaa alleged that Kerala government's propaganda on the dam was politically motivated
The resolution also expresses disappointment over Kerala's resolution passed on December 6 asking water level to be reduced to 120 feet.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government assured the Supreme Court that all measures would be taken to protect the dam and said that adequate security measures have been put in place for the dam, installations and properties of Tamil Nadu in the state.
The Central Government told the apex court that if requested from either of the state, deployment of paramilitary forces could be considered. The Kerala government also suggested to the court that it should request Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call a meeting of the chief ministers of both the states and resolve the issue.
However, the Tamil Nadu Government did not agree to Kerala's proposal and the apex curt said that unless both the governments agreed it can not make such a request.

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