The Hindu Business Line : Kerala, TN keen on settling rows

THE ministerial level talks between a visiting Tamil Nadu delegation and the Kerala Government have demonstrated a common desire for an early settlement to the inter-State river water issues that have cropped up in recent times.

The meeting decided that the expert committee, working on the revision of the Parambikulam-Aliyar pact, be asked to come up with a viable proposal in time for the next round of the ministerial level discussions scheduled for April.

The Kerala Minister for Water Resources, Mr T. M. Jacob, who headed the State's team at the talks, told newspersons that the talks were fruitful. The Tamil Nadu team, led by the Minister for Public Works, Mr O. Panneerselvam, was not available for comments. According to Mr Jacob, both sides were willing to consider an out-of-court settlement to the Mullaperiyar issue, though "this would take some doing."

Referring to Tamil Nadu's demand for a Pamba-Achankoil-Vypar link, Mr Jacob regretted that Kerala did not have any water to spare. A study conducted by the Kozhikode-based Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) had shown that the hydrological balance of the Vembanad Lake would be affected if water were to be diverted from the Pamba and Achankoil rivers. The Tamil Nadu team had been made aware of this fact, the Minister said.

Tamil Nadu's concern about the weir being constructed by Kerala across the Bhavani was borne out of the wrong notion that Kerala was seeking to divert a substantial portion of the flows into the river. The proposed weir at Mukkali would rise to no more than six metres in height.

The canal, with a shutter at the mouth, was only two metres wide and two metres in height. It would not take away such quantities of water that would possibly deny lower riparian rights to the people staying in downstream areas. The total estimated cost for the project is only Rs 2.85 crore. The Minister expressed the hope that Tamil Nadu was satisfied with the clarification.

The neighbouring State has also been told that water available to it from the Parambikulam-Aliyar system would have to be scaled down upon revision of the agreement, which expired in 1988.

Tamil Nadu had proposed an agreement with Kerala on supply of water from the Neyyar reservoir for irrigation purposes in Kanyakumar district.

Mr Jacob said he had promised to convey the views of the Kerala Government on the matter after discussions at an all-party meet being convened for the purpose by the Kerala Government.

All-party meet planned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Chief Minister, Mr A. K. Antony, has said that the State Government proposed to convene an all-party meeting to work out a consensus on articulating the State's viewpoint in the inter-State water disputes, mostly involving Tamil Nadu.

Announcing this on the floor of the State Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the meeting would be held during the course of the current session itself. The meeting would seek out ways to protect the legitimate interests of the State in the disputes, he added.

Meanwhile, the Irrigation Minister, Mr T. M. Jacob, told the House that the State was not favourably disposed to the proposal for linking rivers originating from the Western Ghats under a larger Central plan for linking major rivers in the peninsula.

The State Government has requested the Centre that a meeting of the Chief Ministers be held before proceeding with the grandiose plan, Mr Jacob said. "The inter-linking of rivers originating from the Western Ghats is not a scientifically proven option," the Minister said. The proposal for linking the Pampa, the Achankoil and the Vypar would similarly be opposed, he added. - Our Bureau

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