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Don't use water disputes to hook Jaya, Nayanar tells BJP

Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar on Monday said his government would vehemently oppose any unilateral decision in Tamil Nadu's favour in the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar river water disputes.

Reacting to reports that the vexed disputes figured in the discussions between the Bharatiya Janata Party and All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on government formation at the Centre, Nayanar told the state assembly that Kerala was an important party in both disputes and any unilateral discussion would not be binding on the state.

He said issues like river water sharing should not be used for achieving political ends as it would prove detrimental to inter state relations.

Pointing out that experts had already said it would be dangerous to concede Tamil Nadu's demand to enhance the storage level of the Mullaperiyar dam to 150 feet from 136 feet, Nayanar said such a move would be opposed strongly.

Earlier, raising the issue, Congress leader Oommen Chandy alleged that the BJP's Jaswant Singh had promised AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha that the dispute would be included in the national agenda as she had wanted. This was nothing but encroachment on the rights of states, and was against the Constitution, he charged.

Chandy said any breach in the dam for storage would submerge vast areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts.

UNI

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