Idukki/New Delhi: Keeping up the tempo over the Mullaperiyar issue, top leaders of Kerala's ruling Congress-led UDF and opposition CPI(M)-led LDF visited the dam, pledging support to ongoing protests in the area demanding construction of a new dam in place of the 116-year-old structure.
Though the UDF and LDF teams visited the area separately, they told reporters that there was no difference between them on the core demand on the Mullaperiyar issue.
Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, who led the LDF team, asked the Centre not to remain silent and take the initiative to facilitate talks between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, locked in a long-standing dispute over the dam's safety.
Kerala PCC president Ramesh Chennithala, who led the UDF delegation, also expressed the hope of early central initiative on the issue.
Meanwhile, MPs from Kerala belonging to both the coalitions jointly submitted a memorandum to the National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi, seeking its urgent intervention in the matter considering the "dire threat" posed by the dam to over three million people in downstream areas.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu are locked in a dispute over the dam. While Kerala is arguing for construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar in place of the existing one, Tamil Nadu is against this, saying it would deprive water for irrigation to five districts of the state.
Kerala MPs continue protest in Parliament
Meanwhile, cutting across party lines, MPs from Kerala continued their protest over the Mullaperiyar Dam issue in Parliament premises on Wednesday, demanding that a new structure be built to replace the existing one.
Holding placards, various MPs from different political parties including the ruling Congress sat on a peaceful dharna before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, claiming that the lives of 30 lakh people were endangered.
"All we are saying is lower the water level from 136 feet to 120 feet for safety of the dam and also to reduce anxiety. At the same time, all procedures should be done for constructing new dam. We reiterate that the dam is exclusive for the purpose of Tamil Nadu... and not a drop of water will be reduced..," said Congress MP from Kottayam Jose K Mani.
He said the Kerala Water Resources Minister had met the Prime Minister on Tuesday and explained the situation to him.
Union Ministers from Kerala Vayalar Ravi, KV Thomas, KC Venugopal, Mullapally Ramachandran and E Ahamed had also met the Prime Minister seeking his intervention in ensuring the safety of the dam.
The Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala's Idukki district has been a sparring point for the state with Tamil Nadu for quite some time now. While Tamil Nadu wants to increase the water-level in the reservoir, Kerala has been insisting that it be reduced from the current 136 feet to 120 feet.
Kerala is willing to construct a new dam for supplying water to Tamil Nadu, which is opposing the move concerned over losing control over the functionality of the dam.
Various groups in Kerala had been arguing that the dam cannot withstand higher magnitude earthquakes and posed a threat to lives and properties of over three million people in Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts of the state.
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