Kerala sticks to stand on Mullaperiyar

Sticking to its stand on building a new dam in place of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar reservoir, Kerala on Friday said it is aware of the importance of giving water to five parched districts of Tamil Nadu, but is concerned over the safety of its people.

"We know very well the importance of water from Mullaperiyar to Tamil Nadu. The five districts of Tamil Nadu are completely depending on water from Mullaperiyar. We are always for distribution of water without any objection," Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told media persons in Chennai.

At the same time, Chandy said his government "is very much anxious" about the safety of the people of his state.

Chandy, who was in Chennai en route to Puducherry to pay homage to Kerala Governor M O H Farook, who died on Thursday night, said the dam issue could be discussed by the two states to find an amicable solution.

The chief minister said Kerala wanted to maintain cordial ties with Tamil Nadu.

The two states are locked in a bitter row over the more than 116-year-old dam, with Kerala insisting on building a new dam citing safety reasons while Tamil Nadu holds the view that the existing reservoir is strong. The Supreme Court empowered committee is going into the issue.

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