NEW DELHI: Responding to a query posed by the Supreme Court asking both Tamil Nadu and its western neighbour regarding control of a new dam, if it is built, Kerala on Friday told the apex court-appointed Empowered Committee that it would agree to the constitution of an independent body to “regulate the water” of the new dam proposed.
“The State of Kerala submits that it is agreeable to the constitution of an independent committee where the representatives of both the states and the Union are present,” Kerala said in its letter.As per Kerala’s proposal, the state has said it is ready for a joint water supply and regulation management system that already exists between Kerala and Tamil Nadu for sharing of water from the Parambikulam-Aliyar and Shirvani reservoirs. Kerala, in its memorandum, has laid claim on the ownership, operation and maintenance of the new dam, if it is built.
The state had conveyed the same to the Committee on a previous occasion in 2010 and had agreed to joint control regarding regulation of water. The Government decision, however, has not been taken kindly by the opp -osition. Blaming the Chandy Government, saying it went against the all -party consensus on the dam, the opposition has upped its ante.
Former CM V S Achuthanandan on Friday said the idea of tripartite control of the new dam would seriously harm the state’s interests. He also took exception to the Chandy government’s radical shift in stand without taking the entire political spectrum into confidence.