Dam row: Minister rules out need for Central force

Tuesday, December 27, 2011: Kerala water resources minister P J Joseph today ruled out the need for the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Mullaperiyar dam site.
Speaking to the reporters here on Tuesday, Minister added that Kerala had the ability to safeguard Mullaperiyar dam. The issue has snowballed in the last few weeks with Kerala raising the pitch for the new dam citing safety concerns about the existing structure.
Kerala has been pressing for twin demands: for a new dam and lowering the water level in the reservoir to 120 feet from 136 feet as an immediate safety measure.
Kerala has been witnessing a series of protests by various political parties and social groups for a new dam in the wake of recent tremors in the region and rising water level in the dam, located in Kerala’s Idduki district but maintained by Tamil Nadu under a 999 year lease.
Ratcheting up its pressure in the snowballing Mullaperiyar dam row with Tamil Nadu, Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution insisting on a new dam to replace the 116-year old reservoir.

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