New Delhi: Signalling a hardening of stand on the Mullaperiyar Dam dispute, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today moved a resolution in the Assembly saying that the state would "under no circumstances give up on its rights" over the structure.
The resolution also warns the Kerala government against disrupting the dam maintenance work that is taken up by Tamil Nadu periodically. It asks Kerala to increase the water level at the dam, which Tamil Nadu uses to irrigate areas in its southern region, to 142 feet from the current 136 feet.
Political parties are now in the process of debating the resolution, which Ms Jayalalithaa hopes will send out a strong message of solidarity on the issue.
Last week, the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution asking for a new dam to replace the existing 116-year-old structure which the state government claims is unsafe.
Ms Jayalalithaa today expressed disappointment at Kerala's stand and accused it of "false propaganda" that had led to tension among the people near the states' border.
The Mullaperiyar Dam is located in Kerala's Idukki district but is controlled by Tamil Nadu under a decades-old agreement. Citing safety concerns since the structure is located in a quake-prone region, Kerala has been asking for a reduction in the water level to 120 feet.
What has Tamil Nadu more worried, however, is Kerala's demand for a new dam. It is apprehensive that this is a ploy by Kerala to take control of the dam. Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has, on the other hand, promised to ensure that Tamil Nadu gets the same amount of water that it does now even after a new dam is constructed.
The assembly session comes on a day when the Supreme Court is expected to decide on the Tamil Nadu government's plea demanding the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the dam site to guard against vandalism.
The apex court has asked the Centre to spell out its stand on the issue. It has also warned both the state governments to refrain from inflaming the passions of people on the issue.
The Central government has already indicated that without a request from the Kerala government, paramilitary forces cannot be deployed at the site.
While hearing the case on Tuesday, the court had pulled up the Tamil Nadu government for using its oral observations reported in newspapers in an advertisement for political gains.
The court had also asked the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that the water level in the dam did not exceed 136 feet as directed by it in an earlier order.
A petition by the Kerala government seeking reduction in the water level from 136 feet to 120 feet was dismissed as not pressed.
Asking for display of "sanity and sensibility on the both sides", the court regretted that "both sides instead of dousing the fire are inflaming it".
"You (Tamil Nadu) are asking for our gag orders so that they (Kerala) don't make any statement and then use our statement for making political gains," the judges had said.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the dam, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British Raj.
The resolution also warns the Kerala government against disrupting the dam maintenance work that is taken up by Tamil Nadu periodically. It asks Kerala to increase the water level at the dam, which Tamil Nadu uses to irrigate areas in its southern region, to 142 feet from the current 136 feet.
Political parties are now in the process of debating the resolution, which Ms Jayalalithaa hopes will send out a strong message of solidarity on the issue.
Last week, the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution asking for a new dam to replace the existing 116-year-old structure which the state government claims is unsafe.
Ms Jayalalithaa today expressed disappointment at Kerala's stand and accused it of "false propaganda" that had led to tension among the people near the states' border.
The Mullaperiyar Dam is located in Kerala's Idukki district but is controlled by Tamil Nadu under a decades-old agreement. Citing safety concerns since the structure is located in a quake-prone region, Kerala has been asking for a reduction in the water level to 120 feet.
What has Tamil Nadu more worried, however, is Kerala's demand for a new dam. It is apprehensive that this is a ploy by Kerala to take control of the dam. Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has, on the other hand, promised to ensure that Tamil Nadu gets the same amount of water that it does now even after a new dam is constructed.
The assembly session comes on a day when the Supreme Court is expected to decide on the Tamil Nadu government's plea demanding the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the dam site to guard against vandalism.
The apex court has asked the Centre to spell out its stand on the issue. It has also warned both the state governments to refrain from inflaming the passions of people on the issue.
The Central government has already indicated that without a request from the Kerala government, paramilitary forces cannot be deployed at the site.
While hearing the case on Tuesday, the court had pulled up the Tamil Nadu government for using its oral observations reported in newspapers in an advertisement for political gains.
The court had also asked the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that the water level in the dam did not exceed 136 feet as directed by it in an earlier order.
A petition by the Kerala government seeking reduction in the water level from 136 feet to 120 feet was dismissed as not pressed.
Asking for display of "sanity and sensibility on the both sides", the court regretted that "both sides instead of dousing the fire are inflaming it".
"You (Tamil Nadu) are asking for our gag orders so that they (Kerala) don't make any statement and then use our statement for making political gains," the judges had said.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the dam, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British Raj.
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