The State Governor, Mr H. R. Bharadwaj, has reiterated the State Government's commitment to building a new dam in place of the ageing Mullaperiyar structure in Idukki district.

Delivering his customary address to the State Assembly at the start of the Budget Session here on Thursday, the Governor said the State is united in its firm resolve to finding a mutually binding but lasting solution to the dam issue.

Neighbouring States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been engaged in a court battle over the issue with the latter opposing the idea of a new dam.

Kerala fears that the weakened dam could give in case of a ground movement, which the region is prone to, measuring in excess of 6 on the Richter scale.

The Governor, however, hastened to add that the Government would be guided by the soundly reasonable and officially stated principle of ‘water for Tamil Nadu, safety for Kerala' while seeking any settlement to the issue.

The State Government is willing to go any distance to accommodate the genuine concerns of the people of Tamil Nadu and maintain the historically cordial relations between the two peoples.

Vision 2030

The State Government proposed to come out with a Vision 2030 document through what Mr Bharadwaj described as an inclusive approach and would seek to involve all shades of opinion in the process.

The proposed Rs 1 lakh-crore-plus High Speed Corridor project linking Thiruvananthapuram with Mangalore would be taken up in right earnest.

Preliminary work on the proposed monorail projects for the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode and the Metro Rail for Kochi are also apace.

The Governor also announced initiation of major work on existing as well as proposed airport projects in the State.

>vinson@thehindu.co.in

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