Jaya opposes NDMA move; thousands hold road blockade for Mullaperiyar dam

Ratcheting up pressure on the Centre over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday slammed it for forming an expert team to draw up a contingency response plan for the reservoir, saying it was succumbing to the “subterfuge” of Kerala government. 

As tension gripped areas bordering Kerala in Theni district following a road blockade protest by thousands of villagers, Jayalalithaa shot off yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the dam issue. 

She took strong exception to the National Disaster Management Authority headed by him forming the experts team to draw up a contingency response plan including “inundation and submergence models” in the event of possible scenarios like earthquakes and floods. 

“This is nothing but succumbing to the subterfuge of the government of Kerala and to present a fait accompli to the Supreme Court and the Empowered Committee constituted by it,” she said demanding withdrawal of NDMA's office memorandum. 

Jayalalithaa's fourth letter to the Prime Minister in as many weeks on the dam issue comes amid an unending war of words between leaders of both states over Kerala's insistence on demolishing the 116-year old dam citing safety concerns which, Tamil Nadu strongly opposes. 

In Theni district, the epicentre of protests since last month against Kerala's stand on the dam issue, police arrested MDMK leader Vaiko when he was on his way to Lower Camp on Kerala border to lead his party workers on a road blockade stir demanding protection to the dam. 

Vaiko was arrested for defying prohibitory orders but about 10,000 people went ahead with the agitation and blocked the road at Gudalur where five persons were injured in a clash between police and the agitators. 

Police said they made a lathicharge when the agitators threw stones at them during the clash which broke out after a tractor 'accidentally' hit the vehicle of IG of Police Rajesh Dass who was on his way to hold talks with the protesters. 

Five media vehicles and some belonging to the police were damaged in the clash, police said adding the situation was under control though tense. Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the trouble spot.