The Tamil Nadu Government today said the repair work on the controversial Mullaperiyar dam has resumed, after it took up with Kerala the issue of its officials allegedly preventing cement bags from reaching the site meant for the purpose.

After the State officials raised the issue with their Kerala counterparts, 500 bags of cement have reached the dam site and the repair works were underway, an official release said.

The Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, held a review meeting with the Chief Secretary Mr Debendranath Sarangi, and the DGP, Mr K. Ramanujam, yesterday and directed them to take up the matter with their Kerala counterparts, it said.

The Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee, while looking into a case pertaining to the strength of the dam over which the two States are locked in a row, had submitted a report vouching for its safety after conducting tests on the structure by drilling holes at various points.

When the State PWD engineers took up repair work to plug the holes ahead of the monsoon season and in line with the committee's directions, the Kerala Government, however “prevented” them from doing it, the release said, adding that Ms Jayalalithaa took up the matter with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on May 27.

While later Kerala assured it would not prevent works, its forest officials stopped cement from being transported there, the release said adding Ms Jayalalithaa subsequently chaired the meeting to review the situation.

“On the directions of the Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa, the Chief Secretary and DGP of Tamil Nadu spoke to their Kerala counterparts following which 500 cement bags have reached the area and woks to plug the holes are underway,” it said.

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