VS blasts Advocates for creating confusion

KOCHI:  Coming down heavily on the UDF Government for creating confusion on the Mullaperiyar issue with the AG controversy, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan on Thursday said that the Revenue Minister was the first accused in the controversy. Addressing the human wall formed by the LDF at Marine Drive-end, he urged the Prime Minister to direct the state government to go ahead with the construction of a new dam.He said that at a time when the entire state has been united on the Mullaperiyar issue, the AG’s statement in the High Court has created confusion. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has made use of the opportunity and submitted before the Centre and the apex court that there is no need for a new dam as the Kerala AG said this before the court.He pointed out that a dam breach would risk as many as 40 lakh lives in the state. The number of tremors in the region is also increasing.“The water level should be brought down to 120 ft. Even then we would continue to give water to Tamil Nadu as we have been doing for the past 116 years,” Achuthanandan said adding that the Supreme Court has pointed out the need for an out-of-court settlement on the issue.Criticising the AG and the government for creating an unnecessary controversy, he said that the controversy had given an edge to Tamil Nadu. “It’s a simple logic to know what will happen when a reservoir breaks. That too a major reservoir carrying 12 TMC water, spreading over 4,668 acres of land. The water will come and destroy everything. Anybody who has dealt with water and soil will be able to know this,” he said. Achuthanandan said finding the money to construct a new dam at Mullaperiyar won’t be an issue as Keralites across the globe will come forward to support the initiative.Justice V R Krishna Iyer who spoke on the occasion said that according to an international agreement made in Brazil, if a dam is found to be dangerous, then the government can go for a new dam. He added that being a public issue, the Indian Army should be entrusted with the task of constructing the dam.