The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Kerala Government to cooperate in increasing the water holding in the Mullaiperiyar Dam to 142 feet in line with the Supreme Court's order.

At a special session of the Assembly to discuss the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, moved a resolution urging the neighbouring State to amend the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act 2006 to enable increasing the water level in the dam to 142 feet.

The Tamil Nadu Legislature also urged the Union Government to provide Central Industrial Security Force protection for the dam following the unrest in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The baseless propaganda by the Kerala Government relating to the safety of the dam has contributed to the unrest.

The Members also unanimously expressed regret that the Kerala Assembly had moved a resolution on December 9, to bring down the water level in the reservoir to 120 feet. While this deserved to be “condemned” it would not be appropriate to do so considering that the Kerala Assembly is an authority under the Constitution, resolved the members.

The resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly pointed out that on February 27, 2006, the Supreme Court had ordered that the water level in the Mullaiperiyar Dam could be increased to 142 feet from 136 feet, and could be further increased to 152 feet after strengthening the dam. The court's decision had been based on the views of experts and the arguments placed before it by Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

However, the Kerala Government had enacted the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act 2006 despite the Supreme Court's order or respect for the Constitution.

The resolution urged Kerala Government not to obstruct the strengthening of the dam to enable the water level to be increased to 152 feet. Tamil Nadu will not compromise on its rights in this issue, resolved the members.

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