Kerala and Tamil Nadu have for long been at loggerheads over the Mullaperiyar dam. (File Photo)
Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala today attacked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the Mullapperiyar dam issue, saying his stand has strengthened Tamil Nadu's demand that the level of the over 100-year-old dam be raised to 152 feet.
Mr Chennithala, a senior Congress leader, also urged the CPI(M)-led LDF government to take a strong position against Tamil Nadu's pitch for the Pamba-Achankovil-Vypar river-linking project.
"The Chief Minister's stand on the Mullapperiyar issue is against the interest of the people of Kerala. It literally strengthened the position of Tamil Nadu on the issue."
"It was because of the position taken by Vijayan that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa urged the Prime Minister to raise the water level of dam to 152 feet," he told reporters in Kerala.
He was responding after reports said Ms Jayalalithaa during her meeting with PM Modi last week had requested him to ensure raising the permissible level of the dam to 152 feet.
The two states have for long been at loggerheads over the Mullaperiyar dam, located in Idduki district of Kerala, but is under the administrative control of Tamil Nadu as per a 999-year lease agreement and caters to irrigation requirements in southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
While Kerala had been pressing for a new reservoir on the ground that the existing dam was in a dilapidated state and weak, Tamil Nadu is opposing it saying the structure was safe.
Based on the report by the Empowered Committee, the Supreme Court had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet in 2014.
Mr Chennithala asked the Chief Minister to take steps to protect the interests of people of Kerala on the Mullaperiyar and Pamba-Achankovil-Vypar river-linking project.
The proposed Pamba-Achankovil-Vypar river linking project is to divert waters from Achankovil and Pamba rivers in Kerala to Tamil Nadu's Vypar River.