Mullai Periyar Dam diverts the flow of water to Tamil Nadu for irrigation. There is no dispute for this. No Keralite is engaged with any irrigation on Periyar River. The water is not packaged to any city or town in Kerala for potable purpose. Still an issue is formed out of mole-hill. Who is to blame for this pathetic condition. Those who were brethren of the same sect (Dravidian) are now battling over no issue. there is some reason in the quarrel over Cauvery water issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Both of them depending upon River Cauvery for drinking and irrigation purpose. No such reason is there in Mullai Periyar Issue. Kerala is not utilizing this water for any of the purpose. But they manage to make an issue and doing injustice to the people of Tamil Nadu.
The Dam was contructed to store water up to 152 feet. Since some issues were raised during 1975-79, it was decided to slash down level to 136. It was also agreed to raise the level to 142 once Baby dam is strengthened. The Tamil Nadu Government requested permission to raise the level to 142 feet when they have strengthened the Baby dam. But Kerala objected to this. They have raised unnecessary questions. They magnified the fear psychosis and spread it among poor people. They went spreading rumours that the MP Dam is weak, it may explode any day, the site is quake prone, tremors have made cracks on the dam, etc. Despite all these, the Supreme Court gave its direction that Tamil Nadu can raise the level to 142 after it satisfied with the finding of expert panel set up by the apex court. But Kerala never stopped there. The Kerala Government stooped to such a level, it enacted Law nullifying the Supreme Court order.
Tamil Nadu went again to Supreme Court cancellation of the Act. Instead of passing strictures on the Government of Kerala for contempt of court, it referred the matter to a bench to study the validity of the Act. The matter is still under study. In the meantime the Kerala government engaged itself to construct another dam which will limit the flow of water to MP Dam. Even this was also taken to the attention of the Supreme Court by Tamil Nadu. The Court appointed a panel under the Chairmanship of Justice Anand. When the matter is not decided so far, Politicians on either side of the border are engaged to fuel the anger. The sufferers are the commoners living in either State.
This is the story of MP Dam issue. These are important questions raised by common people on the street.
1. Why Kerala is adamant on constructing a fresh dam when it is not dependent on River Periyar for irrigation or drinking purpose?2. Why Kerala is childish and raising questions on safety of the Dam when the experts have solved it and assured that the Dam is strong enough to face any situation?
3. Why Kerala is over-sighting the real threat from Idukki Dam which is 7 time bigger than MP Dam and, according to experts, is the cause of tremors in the area?
4. Why Kerala is not inclined to implement the Judgement of Supreme Court? Is it democratic to disrespect the Apex Court?
5. The Communists who boast they are democratic, holier than others, working for the poor disrespect the Supreme Court and passed a legislation nullifying it.
6. Why the Union Government is keeping quiet on the issue when both sides are warring on no issue?
7. Is it correct for the Union Government to act on partisan lines, when the unity of the country and peaceful life of the common man is threatened?
8. Why the Supreme Court is acting like a Banyan tree-Panchayat, instead of a Constitutional body?
9. How the Supreme Court will safeguard the basic principles of the Constitution, when its orders are unimplemented?
10. How can the Supreme Court Guarantee the citizens their fundamental rights, under Article 32?
11. Is the Supreme Courts will run only on poor and unguarded people?
What Tamil Nadu can do in this situation?
When the Union Government is lame duck, when the opponent is not willing to hear what is right, when the Supreme Court is not acting according to the Law, What can the Tamil Nadu Government can do? In our opinion the following are the only way before the Government of Tamil Nadu.
1. Stop all kinds of relations with the Government of Kerala.2. Close all the entry points leading to Kerala and stop flow of food and other materials to Kerala.
3. Impose double taxes on all establishments run by Keralites in Tamil Nadu. Impose citizenship tax on Keralites living in Tamil Nadu.
4. Impose ban on Union Ministers of Kerala origin from visiting Tamil Nadu.
5. Close Kerala minority schools and stop teaching Malayalam in Tamil Nadu.
These may seem to be irritating, unconstitutional and divisive. Tamilians living in Kerala may also face similar threats from the Keralites. But there is no way to bring the Government of Kerala to terms. The loss of Kerala is multifaceted than the loss to Tamil Nadu if the above suggestions are implemented. If we cannot bring Kerala, which is more dependent on Tamil Nadu than any other State, to its knee, we cannot bring any other state to terms, to achieve Justice.
I hope you will, even you are Keralite, appreciate this. Read also: Mullai Periyar on Wikipedia
Dear Sir, it is in the Keralite's genetic make up not to go down on his knees, unlike some of the Tamilian hordes who do dhandaals in front of 'Amma"....So if u think Kerala can be brought to its knees , well u are living in fools paradise....Keralites survive and flourish not only in Tamil Nadu, but in all corners of India ,and the world, facing the most adverse of circumstances.. so please dont think that u can put pressure on Kerala by stopping your beans and carrots from going across the border.
ReplyDeleteAnd coming to the substantial parts, it is the fear of a 124 year old structure made of lime and surki mortar, located at a height of 881 m above mean sea level, which makes it more prone to seismic forces , collapsing and causing death and destruction ,that makes Kerala propose a new dam. The exact strength and longevity of the dam are technical matters , best left to experts. But no structure can last indefinitely, and when there is a proposal to build a new dam with their own money, and also continue to provide water to Tamil Nadu, which can be made enforceable by legal means, then what is the objection of Tamil Nadu to a new dam?...
As for some facts, the waters of River Periyar are indeed used for drinking water purposes in the city of Kochi, for your kind information...
As for legislation which overrides, Court rulings, it is not something new in India. There have been instances when Supreme Court rulings have been rendered null by Parliamentary exercises, like passing of Constitution Amendments. It is the will of the people as represented in Parliament or State legislatures which is Supreme and not any order made by whichever Court in India.