Mullaperiyar: Divergent voices add to confusion
Mullaperiyar: Divergent voices add to confusion
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Differing voices emanating from the UDF and the government on the report submitted by the Supreme Court-appoin..

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Differing voices emanating from the UDF and the government on the report submitted by the Supreme Court-appointed empowered panel on Mullaperiyar has resulted in all-round confusion. While Water Resources Minister P J Joseph remains steadfast in his opposition to the report and the approach of Justice K T Thomas, whom he alleged had acted against the state’s interests, Rural Development Minister K C Joseph and Power-Transport Minister Aryadan Mohammed are maintaining that there was little ground to stick with the criticism against Thomas.  KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala is taking the approach of preventing further controversies and highlighting the  positive aspects in the panel report while challenging the adverse points in the court. Finance Minister and KC(M) supremo K M Mani said the panel report was not acceptable and the state should move forward with steps to construct a ‘protection dam’ in the downstream of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam to allay the fears of lakhs of people. The suggestion in the report to retain the old dam by terming it safe cannot be accepted, he said.  However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is yet to openly express his views and insisted that the cabinet will meet on Wednesday to chalk out a collective stance.   Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has already demanded a clear-cut stance from the side of the government to protect the interests of the state, while coming out strongly against the lack of unanimity in the government and ruling UDF  in addressing the issue. It is reliably learnt that Justice K T Thomas is being contacted by a slew of  political leaders of all hues and the jurist had been apprising them of the merits and demerits of the report in detail. He continues to insist that Kerala is a gainer legally and the stance of Kerala Congress(M), especially that of Minister P J Joseph, against the report was totally unwarranted.  Apparently stung by the criticism from his Cabinet colleagues and the Congress leadership, Joseph said on Monday that he has nothing personal against Justice Thomas and he was only highlighting those aspects in the report which are prejudicial to the interests of the state. He also said that the state will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court before July 23. Rumours are also there that the KC faction earlier led by Joseph and which had merged with the KC(M) is taking the opportunity to assert itself in the party by adopting a tough posture. Meanwhile, a writ petition filed by environmentalist-social activist C R Neelakandan for measures to strengthen the existing dam has been left by the Supreme Court for consideration by a Constitution Bench and it will be taken up along with the main petition.

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