Kerala voices concern over SC order in M'periyar case

The Congress-led UDF government today said it would explore further legal options after studying the Supreme Court order quashing its legislation passed on the Mullaperiayar Dam safety issue.

"Our prime concern all along has been the safety of the dam and its fallout on the people. After studying the Supreme Court order and in consultation with legal experts we will decide on the next course," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reportes while reacting to the order.

He said Kerala was never opposed to giving water to Tamil Nadu.

The state's concern had always been the safety of the the people and it was in view of this it took legal and legislative measures. They were not meant circumvent law or the court orders, Chandy said defending the government decisions taken on the matter.

Setting aside political differenes, all parties including the opposition CPI(M)-led LDF voiced anxiety over the safety of the 119-yer-old dam on Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.

Water Resources Minister P J Joseph said the state would explore the possibility of filing a review petition.

"We will consult legal experts. The advise we have received is that there is scope for a review petition," he said.

CPI(M) stalwart and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan termed the order as "most unfortunate" and said it did not take into consideration the safety of over 3.5 million people in five districts--Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam.

Acchuthanandan also said Kerala failed to present its concerns convincingly before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the agitators at Chappath in the dam site area in Idukki district came out in protest against the development and said they would carry on with the agitation for a new dam in place of the existing structure.

Terming the verdict as a "severe setback" to the state's stand on the issue, former Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran said the apex court had rejected all the arguments advanced by the state while setting aside the legislative measures.

He alleged the report drawn up by the Central Water Commission did not proceed on the basis of scientific evidences regarding the safety of the dam or the threat it posed to the safety of people and their properties in the area.

Two years back, the state was witness to a prolonged agitation by the local resistance group and its supporters. They wanted the 119-year-old dam built by the British engineers to be decommissioned and a new dam constructed.

They had also urged for scrapping of the pact on water sharing entered into between the then princely state of Travancore and erstwhile Madras presidency.