River waters issue puts Kerala govt in a spot

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader V S Achutanandan caused considerable embarrassment to the E K Nayanar government in Kerala, when he claimed Irrigation Minister Baby John had let the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu take away Kerala's rightful share of river waters.

Achutananandan attacked the government headed by a member of his own party, claiming it had failed miserably in protecting the interest of the state. He even sought action against the chief minister and the irrigation minister, putting a damper on the week-long celebration to mark the completion of one year in power of the government.

"The allegation... is serious and, if it is true, both leaders deserve punishment," said Congress leader Aryadan Mohammad.

Achutanandan says the irrigation minister, who belongs to the Revolutionary Socialist Party, did not stop Tamil Nadu from spiriting away Kerala's share of the waters in violation of agreements and then had the gall to try and defend his position. A standing committee set up to probe the charges, cleared John, contradicting its own earlier findings and thus earning Achutanandan's ire.

The Marxist leader also accused Baby John of permitting Tamil Nadu to raise the height of a dam during his previous terms as irrigation minister and then feigning ignorance about it. He also pointed out that the file concerning this issue was missing from the state secretariat. He said that authorised and unauthorised constructions by Tamil Nadu in the dam site upstream of Mullaperiyar has endangered the Idukki dam in Kerala. Achutanandan also claimed two projects by Tamil Nadu were responsible for water shortages in several districts in Kerala.

The RSP is annoyed by the attacks but cannot seek Nayanar's support since he is himself under attack and because he is dependent on Achutanandan's group. Its leaders have, therefore, approached other coalition partners for support, claiming that such propaganda by a senior leader like Achutanandan reflected poorly on the government.

RSP leaders believe Achutanandan's attacks are motivated by his bitterness at not becoming chief minister when he lost last year's assembly election. Otherwise, he would have raised the issue in the right forum instead of rushing to the press, they said.