The decades-old Mullaperiyar dam controversy, which frequently pops up in public debate in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is back in the news with the new Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hinting at a softening of the stand on Kerala’s demand for relocating the dam.
At a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, Vijayan said his government would try for a negotiated settlement of the issue. He asserted that the issue could not be resolved by whipping up passions and creating unnecessary controversies. He said the dam issue could be ideally resolved through bilateral talks between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Vijayan was also ambivalent on the question of building a new dam to replace the 121-year-old dam. He pointed out that the dam supervisory committee appointed by the Supreme Court had reported that the dam had become stronger after a series of steps taken to strengthen it. The committee was of the view that Kerala’s fears about the safety of the dam were unfounded. The Chief Minister said the committee’s views could not be totally ignored.
Vijayan’s remarks, which have been interpreted as a change in Kerala’s stand on the dam issue, have come as a surprise. Both the former LDF government headed by VS Achuthanandan and the UDF government headed by Oommen Chandy that left office last week, had pressed hard and fought legal battles for building a new dam in view of the safety concerns. Political parties across the spectrum have also demanded a new dam.
Cong’s criticism Reacting sharply to Vijayan’s alleged shift of stand, VD Satheesan, MLA and vice-president of the Congress party in Kerala, said the Chief Minister had let down Kerala. In a Facebook post, Satheesan pointed out that building an alternative dam at Mullaperiyar was one of the election promises of the Left Democratic Front.
Within three days of taking office, Vijayan has proved the hollowness of the LDF election manifesto, he alleged. The administrative and legal steps taken by the Chandy government on the issue had been supported by the LDF. “Pinaryi’s change of stand amounts to cheating the people,” Satheesan added.