CHENNAI: Expressing serious concern over the recommendation made for grant of Terms of Reference (ToR) on Kerala’s proposal to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for constructing a new dam at Mullaiperiyar, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to forthwith withdraw the recommendation made as it violated a Supreme Court verdict.
“I request you to advise the Union Environment Ministry and its agencies to desist from entertaining and considering any proposal of the Kerala government on new dam at Mullaiperiyar in future and to negate the proposals which are in violation of the orders of the SC dated May 7, 2014,” the Chief Minister said in a letter to Modi.
He said the Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at its 18th meeting on September 27 recommended for a grant of ToR of Kerala’s proposal to conduct EIA study for construction of a new dam instead of the existing Mullaiperiyar dam. “This has caused great apprehension and consternation among the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Palaniswami said the action of Kerala government in having approached the Centre and in turn, the Centre having entertained the State’s proposal were in gross violation of the Supreme Court decree of May 7, 2014. The verdict said: “In this view of the matter for the construction of a new dam, there has to be an agreement of both the parties. The offer made by Kerala cannot be thrust upon Tamil Nadu. Issue No.9, therefore, has to be decided against Kerala and it is so held.”
The Chief Minister recalled that earlier when Kerala government stealthily obtained clearance in August 2014 without either informing or consulting and obtaining the concurrence of Tamil Nadu for EIA study for construction of a new dam, Tamil Nadu government had issued a contempt notice against the Member-Secretary of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife and Wildlife Preservation Officer, on May 16, 2015.
Jaya’s request
The CM recalled that the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had urged PM Modi to instruct the Environment Ministry to desist from entertaining and considering the proposal of Kerala in future.
DMK flays EIA NOD
DMK treasurer Durai Murugan said the nod given for EIA study has shocked State’s farmers and has endangered the harmony between the two States
