Published Sep 03, 2022 | 12:55 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 03, 2022 | 12:55 PM
Stalin and Vijayan meet at Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram on the evening of Friday, 2 September. (Supplied)
With Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin not raising the vexed Mullaperiyar issue with his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan at their meeting on Friday, 2 September, the urgent repair works required for the safety of the inter-state dam are likely to be delayed further.
The two chief ministers met at Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram on the sidelines of the 30th Southern Zonal Council meeting to be presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, 3 September.
Though Stalin had handed over a memorandum to Vijayan, avoiding the contentious issue of Mullaperiyar, the latter preferred a chief secretary-level discussion on the suggestions first.
He said that the discussion between the chief ministers could be organised later.
Stalin, on Friday, took to Twitter to announce that the memorandum contained schemes beneficial to both the states.
Landed in Kerala to a warm and rousing reception amidst the drizzle.
Later, met my Dear Comrade Hon’ble @pinarayivijayan and presented him a memorandum of schemes that would be beneficial to both Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
We shall thrive together strengthening our historic ties! pic.twitter.com/eE8n0ZkNpI
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 2, 2022
According to highly placed sources, there were cordial discussions between the two leaders on many inter-state issues, including Tamil Nadu’s demand for increased water allocation from the Siruvani and Parambikulam dams.
Both of them, however, preferred to avoid any mention of Mullaperiyar for the time being as any decision on the issue of repair works could lead to protests in both the states.
Stalin greets Vijayan at Kovalam on Friday, 2 September. (Supplied)
South First has learnt that both the leaders have decided not to discuss the conflicting issue at the moment and to put up a show of unity before the Union government at the Southern Zonal Council meeting.
According to sources, the two Southern leaders opined that it would be an occasion for all the non-BJP governments of the region to show their unity to the Union government which, they believe, is violating well-established federal principles of engagement.
Raising the Mullaapperiyar issue at this juncture has the potential to disturb the harmony between the two southern states and sending the wrong message to the Centre.
So, Kerala has agreed to Stalin’s suggestion to wait for the pending court order on the issue.
The demand from Tamil Nadu is to fell 15 trees in a 40-cent area on the dam premises so that it could strengthen the baby dam which is in need of urgent repairs.
In the case of the inter-state dam, Kerala owns the land while Tamil Nadu has sole rights over the dam, its storage and maintenance.
Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court when Kerala denied permission to fell the trees close to the baby dam.
Kerala’s objection is that the trees are located inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The Vijayan government has qualms about facilitating the repair works as it would weaken Kerala’s argument that the dam is unsafe and needs to be demolished.
It wants a new dam to be built there by demolishing the existing structure and doesn’t want the court to conclude that the dam is safe.
The issue came to a head last year when Kerala’s Principal Secretary for Forests and Wildlife faced disciplinary action for permitting the cutting of trees without the state Cabinet’s approval.
Following this, the Vijayan government revoked the permission to cut trees.
However, Tamil Nadu minister Durai Murugan averted an uncomfortable encounter between the two chief ministers on Friday noon by saying that the matter was pending before the court.
Murugan said that there will not be any discussion on the Mullaperiyar issue with the chief minister of Kerala yet.
When the southern strongmen met at Kovalam on Friday, 2 September. (Supplied)
The Union Home Ministry has convened the Southern Zonal Council of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka in Thiruvananthapuram..
The issues on the table include the prevailing law and order situation, inter-state relations, infrastructure development, public health, women’s safety and sharing of inter-state water resources.
The administrators from the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also to participate in the meeting hosted and chaired by Kerala.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu IT Minister Mano Thangaraj praised Kerala’s initiative to develop the IT industry and said that a high-level team from his state would visit Kerala to study its digital university and other IT educational initiatives.
