Kerala Government has allotted 5 acres of land each at Nilakkal to provide facilities for the pilgrims visiting Sabarimala from four Southern States. CM of Andhra Pradesh has informed that he would lay the foundation stone for the building that is to be constructed in the land allotted for them.

False news is spreading in Tamil Nadu regarding the stand of Kerala in the Mullaperiyar issue. Kerala doesn’t have any hidden agenda in this matter. The aim is to ensure safety for Kerala and to provide water for Tamil Nadu, CM reiterated the stand of Kerala. CM made it cleat that Kerala hopes to achieve this aim by maintaining the cordial relation with Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu needs water and Kerala is ready to give any sort of assurance that they would continue to get the same amount of water even after the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar. Kerala is ready to enter into a bilateral agreement with Tamil Nadu in this regard or to have a tri party agreement involving Centre. Kerala is ready to give its declaration in Supreme Court or to pass a law in this regard.

Kerala wishes to resolve this issue through discussion. CM pointed out that Kerala had sent two letters to Tamil Nadu CM, but didn’t receive any reply for the second letter. Though two meetings at official level were scheduled, they were postponed, said CM.

Kerala need not seek anyone’s sanction for constructing a dam in its soil utilizing the fund of Kerala. Only 25 hectares of land will be inundated by constructing a new dam. A detailed project report regarding this has been prepared, but Kerala wishes to construct a new dam with the co-operation of Tamil Nadu, CM explained.

Tamil Nadu will continue to get water on all days. Kerala cannot wait for long as the security of the people is utmost important.

The life of Mullaperiyar dam is just 50 years. But now it is 116 years old. No one would claim that the dam would survive for 999 years. The question is about when to have a new dam.

Several quakes have hit the Mullaperiyar region in succession. The people are worried and tensed and anxiety prevails. Situation is such that the children’s can’t even go to school. CM requested the media heads from Tamil Nadu to visit the place to get a clear picture of the situation there.

Centre has got limitation in the federal system. Centre can intervene only if both states agree. Though the Centre has intervened in this matter, no development has been made, CM pointed out.

Both the states decided to construct a new dam in 1979. The officials from Tamil Nadu came for discussions as per the instruction of Central Water Commission. The minutes of the agreement approved by the two states are there. But Kerala couldn’t move forward as the issue had come up in the court, CM explained.