Palaniswami writes to PM Modi over Kerala's proposal for new dam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to direct the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to forthwith withdraw recommendations made on Kerala's proposal to construct a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

"I am constrained to bring to your kind notice, that the Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in its 18th meeting held on September 27, 2018, recommended for a grant of Terms of Reference of Kerala's proposal to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the construction of a new dam instead of the existing Mullai Periyar Dam. This has caused great apprehension and consternation among the people of Tamil Nadu," Palaniswami said in his letter to the Prime Minister.

He added that the Kerala government approaching the Centre on the matter and the latter entertaining it were in gross violation of the decree of the Supreme Court on the inter-state dispute.

"For the construction of a new dam, there has to be agreement of both the parties. The offer made by Kerala cannot be thrust upon Tamil Nadu," Palaniswami said, quoting the Supreme Court verdict dated May 7, 2014.

The Chief Minister further said, "Earlier when the Government of Kerala stealthily obtained clearance in August 2014 without either informing or consulting and obtaining the concurrence of Tamil Nadu for Environmental Impact Assessment Study for construction of a new dam in utter defiance of the decree of the Supreme Court, the Government of Tamil Nadu had to issue a contempt notice against the Member-Secretary of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life and Wild Life Preservation Officer, on May 16, 2015."

He also requested Prime Minister Modi to advise the Environment ministry and its agencies to desist from entertaining and considering any proposal put forth by the Kerala government on the new Mullaperiyar dam in future, and also to negate the proposals which are in violation of the Supreme Court orders.

The Mullaperiyar Dam, which was built in 1886, has been a bone of contention between the two states from the past many years. This dam is located in Kerala but is maintained and managed by the Tamil Nadu government.