Jayalalithaa thanks Modi for Mullaperiyar Dam panel

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the union cabinet's decision to set up the supervisory committee for Mullaperiyar Dam.

In a letter to Modi, the text of which was released to the media here, Jayalalithaa said: "I thank you for the decision of the union cabinet which met today (Wednesday) and approved the constitution of the Supervisory Committee for the Mullai Periyar dam as mandated by the Supreme Court in its judgement dated May 7."

She recalled her meeting with Modi early this month when she had presented a memorandum in which she had requested to constitute the Supervisory Committee to raise the water storage level of Mullaperiyar dam to 142 ft.

"The decision of the union cabinet to constitute the supervisory committee will help mitigate the distress of the farmers in the five southern districts of Tamil Nadu dependent on Mullai Periyar water. Your prompt action in this regard is deeply appreciated," she added.