Thiruvananthapuram/Chennai, Aug 20: Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Thursday raised the Mullaperiyar dam issue at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Chennai and stressed the need for cooperative federalism in healthcare, infrastructure, environmental protection and regional security.
The Mullaperiyar dam issue was among the key state concerns raised by the CM at the meeting, according to a post on X.
Satheesan said Keralam was willing to provide Tamil Nadu with its full share of water from a new Mullaperiyar dam.
He said Tamil Nadu would manage the design, location and construction of the new dam, while Keralam would bear the entire cost.
While Tamil Nadu has contended the dam was safe all along, the Keralam government said it was unsafe and a higher water level could endanger lives downstream in case of a breach and sought its decommissioning.
Other issues raised by Satheesan were his government’s Mission Samudra project, the need to withdraw recent amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, and implementing one-third reservation for women in Parliament without increasing the House’s strength.
“Addressed the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram chaired by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. Pressed for cooperative federalism across healthcare funding, infrastructure, environmental protection, and regional security,” he said in the X post.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened the meeting of chief ministers of southern states to deliberate on important inter-state and national issues.
The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, as well as the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
The council serves as a forum for resolving issues and disputes between the Centre and the member states and Union Territories, according to the Union government.
River water-sharing issues involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu and Keralam are among the ongoing disputes. (PTI)
