Call for talks on new dam is a trap: PMK

CHENNAI: In a strong reaction to Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s view that the Centre would broker a deal between the governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the issue of a new Mullaiperiyar dam if the former promised continued water supply, PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss on Wednesday said the offer is just a trap.In a statement, Ramadoss made a scathing attack on the Centre for not taking steps to implement the Supreme Court order on increasing the height of the Mullaiperiyar dam. “The core issue is not building a new dam. It’s about increasing the height of the existing dam from 136 feet to 142 feet,” he noted.Ramadoss said six southern districts of the State would go dry if the new dam came up. Arguing that agreeing to talks for a new dam would only be detrimental to Tamil Nadu, Ramadoss cautioned the State government not to get entrapped.