Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala will continue its legal battle in the Supreme Court to enable the construction of a new dam replacing the 116-year-old structure at Mullaperiyar. This depsite the Supreme Court-appointed empowered committee's report asking Kerala to re-consider its demand for a new dam.
"We want a new dam. There is no rethink on that. We studied all aspects and we want a new dam. At the same time we are aware of the need for water for Tamil Nadu," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told NDTV after the weekly cabinet meeting.
The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday discussed the report that the empowered committee submitted before the apex court last week. The report certified the Mullaperiyar dam to be safe and also favoured raising the water level from the present 136 feet to 142 feet.
"The empowered committee report is not the final word. The final word should come from the Supreme Court and we will approach the Supreme Court with our objections," Chandy said.
However, the Kerala Chief Minister assured Tamil Nadu that it will continue to get the same amount of water from the new dam. "Our stand is water for Tamil Nadu and safety for Kerala," Chandy said.
The Mullaperiyar dam, located in Kerala but operated by Tamil Nadu, is a bone of contention between both states, with the matter reaching the Supreme Court. While Tamil Nadu calls the dam safe, Kerala maintains that it is unsafe and wants to construct a new dam in its place.
The Supreme Court has posted the case for hearing to July 23.