Date:18/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071851442100.htm

Back Kerala ready for talks on Mullaperiyar

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 The State Government is ready to continue talks with the Tamil Nadu Government to sort out the differences of opinion over the Mullaperiyar issue, the Water Resources Minister, Mr N.K. Premachandran, announced in the State Assembly on Tuesday.

Replying to questions, the Minister said the Chief Minister had already expressed the Government’s willingness to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for entering into a bilateral dialogue with the neighbouring State.

The Tamil Nadu Government had not responded to repeated requests for providing information on the level of seepage from the dam, he said.

Replying to another question, the Minister said that the Dam Safety Authority was formed as per the provisions of the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act to monitor the safety and security of all dams in the State. Twenty-two of them have been brought under its purview.

Members of the authority had inspected Mullaperiyar dam on three occasions. The Government will not interfere with the functions of the authority that was of quasi-judicial nature, and will scrupulously implement the latter’s directions, including proposals for decommissioning of a dam.

The Government will implement the direction to reduce water level in Chimony dam by 3 metres. A pilot project will be taken up to desilt the dams. Peechi and Malampuzha dams will be taken up as a pilot project, the Minister said.

PRIVATE INVESTMENTS

The Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, told newspersons separately that the State Government was expecting private investments worth Rs 10,000 crore to flow into the State in the near future.

Among the major projects being contemplated for implementation is a petrochemical complex at Kasaragod, which had invited the attention of a few companies. A satellite unit of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will be set up in Kannur. A sum of Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for the purpose, the Minister said.

A proposal for setting up an industrial park in Adimali in Idukki district is also under the consideration of the Government.