File photo of Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy.
Disputing Tamil Nadu's ownership claim on four dams including Mullaperiyar, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday said the dams belong to Kerala and there would be no compromise on the issue.
"Tamil Nadu's ownership claim to the dams is wrong. Though the four dams are maintained and operated by that state, it cannot lay claim to their ownership," he told reporters in Kochi.
The maintenance and upkeep of the four dams -- Mullaperiyar, Parambikulam, Peruvaripallam and Thunakadavu -- is being carried out by Tamil Nadu as per the terms specified in the agreement between the two states, he said.
The dams are located on the state's borders. Kerala wants to maintain good neighbourly relations with Tamil Nadu, he said, adding the state was not keen to stir any 'unnecessary controversy' on the same.
"There is no question of any compromise on the issue", he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had yesterday asserted that the four dams belong to Tamil Nadu.
"Though the dams are located in Kerala, they are owned, operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu," she had stated.
Mr Chandy said the entry in the Central Water Commission National Register of large dams (NRLD) stated that the four dams belong to Kerala.
Earlier this month noisy scenes had been witnessed in the state assembly for two days over the ownership claims of Tamil Nadu over the four dams.
Mr Chandy had told the Assembly on June 12 that the four dams continued to be in the list of Kerala with a footnote 'four dams are located in Kerala and are operated and maintained by PWD of Tamil Nadu'.
The Chief Minister also said Kerala would seek more time from the High Court to explain its stand on renewing of license of 418 closed bars. But the state was not keen to extend it for a long time, he said.