Tamil Nadu vs Kerala; MK Stalin writes to Centre not to allow construction of new dam in Mullaperiyar

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu sends letter to the Centre asking it not to allow Kerala's move to seek environmental clearance to build a new dam at Mullaperiyar. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin issued the letter to the Union Environment Ministry. The letter also says that if the project goes ahead, contempt of court proceedings will be initiated.

Tamil Nadu's move comes at a time when the Environment Ministry's expert committee is considering Kerala's demand to conduct an environmental impact study in Mullaperiyar on the 28th. Tamil Nadu will also formally issue a letter to the Ministry of Environment not to give permission to the Kerala government to build the dam without the permission of the Tamil Nadu government.

Tamil Nadu had earlier come out against the construction conducted by the Water Resources Department at Chilanthiyar in Vattavada. Tamil Nadu alleged that Kerala was trying to block the flow of water into the Amaravati River by building a dam. MK Stalin had sent a letter to the Kerala government pointing this out. However, Minister Roshy Augustine responded that Tamil Nadu's suspicions were based on misunderstanding and that the Water Resources Department was building only a weir for the drinking water project.