Thiruvananthapuram, 06 August (H.S.): Kerala will not under any circumstances allow the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam to be raised above the Supreme Court-fixed limit of 142 feet, State Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph said on Thursday, strongly opposing Tamil Nadu’s proposal to pursue an increase in the reservoir level.
Joseph said Kerala had already made its position clear and maintained that neither Kerala nor Tamil Nadu could unilaterally alter the water level fixed by the Supreme Court.
The 142-foot limit was determined after taking Kerala’s interests and safety concerns into consideration, he said, describing the announcement in Tamil Nadu’s Budget regarding efforts to raise the level as unfortunate.
Reiterating Kerala’s long-standing position, Joseph said the State favoured the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar as a permanent solution to the dispute. Kerala was committed to ensuring that Tamil Nadu received the water it required while simultaneously safeguarding the lives and property of people living downstream of the dam, he added.
The Minister called for a solution based on consensus between the two States, balancing Tamil Nadu’s water requirements with Kerala’s concerns over dam safety.
Joseph said efforts were being made under the leadership of the Chief Minister to initiate discussions with the Tamil Nadu government and build consensus on the Mullaperiyar issue. However, it remained unclear how Tamil Nadu would respond to such an initiative, he said.
He also raised concerns over the safety of the century-old dam, saying comprehensive safety inspections had not been carried out adequately.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson, while presenting the State Budget, had said the government would pursue measures to raise the Mullaperiyar reservoir level in accordance with existing agreements, tribunal awards and judicial directions.
Wilson had also asserted that Tamil Nadu would fully protect the State’s interests in matters concerning the sharing of inter-State river waters.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
