THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A special session of the Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution urging steps from the Centre and state governments to build a new dam at Mullaperiyar and lowering the water level in the old dam to 120 feet till the construction is over.Water Resources Minister P J Joseph created a stir by stating that he would undertake a fast unto death at the Rajghat if the Centre does not intervene on the state’s demand by Christmas. He said once the Centre brings in an enactment for the Dam Safety Authority, the Mullaperiyar issue could be solved within a day.However, he apologised when Speaker G Karthikeyan chided him that the floor of the House is not meant for making such declarations like going on a fast.Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan and other Left leaders cornered the government on the controversial stance of the Advocate-General in the High Court and the Centre’s ineffective role though all veered around the spirit of the session in the end. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and a few members who spoke from the UDF side attacked the Left for dilly-dallying by the CPM and CPI national leadership on the issue as well as their ties with Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK combine in Tamil Nadu.Presenting the substantive motion under Rule 275, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy put forth the sentiments and concern of the House on the grave security posed to the ageing dam amid recurring tremors and copious rains in the region, and thereby the threat to the lives of lakhs of people in the state. The resolution also gave an undertaking to neighbouring Tamil Nadu that Kerala will provide the same share of water being drawn now from Mullaperiyar.
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