Chandy to consult opposition on Mullaperiyar Dam row

Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has said he would consult opposition leaders over the Mullaperiyar Dam Row which has been a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu and Kerala for years.

On May 7, the Supreme Court quashed the law passed by Kerala on Mullaperiyar Dam in 2006. A bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha quashed the amendments to the Kerala Conservation and Irrigation Act introduced by the Kerala Government in 2006 to restrict the water level to 136 feet.

An all-party meet was held on May 12 to discuss the future course of action. In the meeting presided over by Chandy, leader of the opposition-Communist Party of India, Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan and leaders of other parties decided to file a review petition before the apex court.

Chandy said: "We have taken the decision in the all party meeting to raise the issue in the Assembly. The assembly will begin by June 9, where we will discuss the Mullaperiyar Dam issue. We are ready for that. We will discuss with opposition leaders also in the assembly."

The Mullaperiyar Dam is in Kerala, but mainly serves Tamil Nadu.

The dam was constructed in 1886, but was washed away. A new structure was built in 1895. Incidentally, the Tamil Nadu Government was in charge of this dam as per a 99-year-long lease formulated by the British.

Kerala has been demanding that the dam be demolished, while Tamil Nadu has fiercely opposed the move. Kerala has called for constructing a new dam to banish fears of an impending disaster in the event of its collapse.

The Tamil Nadu Government, on the other hand, claims that the walls of the dam have been sufficiently fortified, and hence, does not pose any threat.