NEW DELHI: For a change, delegations from Tamil Nadu and Kerala could find a meeting point on Mullaperiyar. Both sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s help to find an “amicable solution” to the growing tension between the two neighbouring states and even got it too. The PMO has already given direction to Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal to convene a meeting of both the states’ CMs and officials in Delhi to sort out the matter as early as possible.All Union ministers from Kerala, except Defence Minister A K Antony, were part of the Kerala delegation who met the PM to press the state’s demand for a new dam. “The Prime Minister heard us out and assured us that he would look into the issue,” Vayalar Ravi, Civil Aviation Minister, said after the meeting.The other ministers in the team included K V Thomas, K C Venugopal, Mullapally Ramachandran and E Ahmed. Antony had taken up the matter with the PM on Monday itself. The two ministers from Kerala, Irrigation Minister P J Joseph and Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radakrishnan, who met the PM said he was quite sympathetic to the state’s demands. It is learnt that Kerala has sought support from the Centre in giving environment clearance to the new dam which has been proposed by the state.Thiruvanchoor Radakrishnan said that the state government is willing to give in writing that Kerala will ensure the same quantity of water to TN. “Our cabinet is meeting on Wednesday and a final decision regarding the state’s strategies will be taken in that,” he said. Sources also said that Kerala Government is planning to write a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister regarding this.
Comments
0 comment