The border districts between Tamil Nadu and Kerala were very much tensed up with protests from people who were against the demolition of the Mullai Periyar Dam on this side and on the other side in Kerala with protestors to demolish the 116-year-old dam. Heavy security was in place at the TN borders. Sunday had many events unfolded on the issue and Wishesh tries to bring in a detailed insight into the events.
Speaking to reporters TN Director General of Police (DGP) K.Ramanujam said around 500 policemen have been deployed in the border areas and the situation is monitored by an inspector general of police and other officials. He also said devotees going to Sabarimala temple in Kerala are being diverted through safer routes. Adding that special control room has been set up at Gudalur near Kerala border where complaints can be lodged. Police had a tough time in preventing TN mobs from entering Kerala.
Thousands of people took out a procession in TN. The frustrated protestors turned violent and went on rampage attacking the convoy of TN State Finance Minister O Panneer Selvam and policemen, forcing the police to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. The tension was due to the attacks on TN Sabari Malai pilgrims in Kerala.
Politicians on both the sides vented out their feelings at the other side for not conceding to their respective demands. The leading opposition party DMDK led by the actor turned politician Vijayakanth released a statement that the MP Dam was a symbol of national integration and it should be protected. Referring to the tensed situation prevailing in the border regions of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the incidents of violence in both the states, he said the situation was threatening to worsen further.
The TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced a special Assembly session will be convened on December 15 to pass a resolution saying Tamil Nadu will not give up its rights over Mullai Periyar because of the 'imaginary threat to the safety and security of the MP Dam.' Announcing this in a statement the CM while appealing for calm and asking people not to get carried away by emotions, said `the issue of Mullai Periyar Dam is pending before the Supreme Court’.
Another prominent party in TN, MDMK sent a letter to the Justice Krishna Iyer, copies of which were released to the media. MDMK General Secretary Vaiko said having high regard for him, he was terribly shocked and pained to read that Mr. Justice Iyer had articipating in a Human chain agitation organized by former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on the MP Dam row.
The MP dam issue has been a bone of contention between the Kerala and Tamil Nadu, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British Raj. While it is located in Kerala, its waters also serve TN. Kerala wants a new dam as it would be under its control and has been raising the issue of earthquake threat to the over a century old masonry of MP Dam.
Precipitation has been the watchword by the centre on most issues. The MP Dam needs to act upon on a war footing and hope the leaders take up the matter and find an amicable solution. To know about more developments on the solution for this issue watch this space regularly.
