CHENNAI: Expressing concern over the attack on Sabarimala pilgrims and vehicles from Tamil Nadu in Kerala, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday appealed to the people of that State not to fall prey to the “machinations of vested interests”.In a statement here, she said the violent developments were based on unfounded fears, which had been fuelled by irresponsible positioning by vested political interests.“There are a large number of Tamils in Kerala. There are an even larger number of Malayalees in Tamil Nadu. And all have lived together all these decades in an admirable display of brotherhood and cooperation... I call upon the highly-educated and intelligent people of God’s Own Country not to fall a prey to the machinations of narrow, vested interests”, she said.She made a fervent appeal to the people of Kerala not to indulge in acts of violence.“Please do not destroy the goodwill that exist between the people of the two states which have been painstakingly built up, not just over the last six decades, but over centuries. This is my request to a people whom I have always held in the highest esteem for their intelligence, eduation, rationality and hard work,” Jayalalithaa said.Giving a detailed account on the safety of Mullaiperiyar dam, the CM said the people of Tamil Nadu would be the last ones on earth who would want devastation to visit their brothers and sisters in Kerala. “We would not claim that the Mullaiperiyar dam is safe unless we were absolutely sure of facts,” Jayalalithaa said.“The dam is well-maintained and has been periodically reinforced. Its safety is constantly monitored and highly qualified experts, including those nominated by the Supreme Court, have reiterated that it is absolutely safe,” she said.Jayalalithaa said that apprehensions about the dam’s safety merely because it is 116 years old is sheer ignorance. Kallanai in Tamil Nadu, which 1,900 years old and constructed using the same material, is functioning well even today. It was based on the confidence on Mullaiperiyar’s longevity that the water-sharing agreement entered into between the British government of the State of Madras and the State of Travancore was for a period of 999 years, she said.On the allegation that the dam stands on an earthquake-prone zone, Jayalalithaa said the whole of Kerala and most parts of India, including Chennai, comes under Seismic Zone III, which stands for “moderately active.”“Tremors, if at all, in Zone III will rarely cross three points on the Richter scale. Tremors of 2 to 2.9 intensity on the Richter Scale are ‘generally not felt, but recorded’. Tremors of 3 to 3.9 intensity on the Richter Scale are “often felt, but rarely cause damage.” Such tremors are widespread and not causes for concern. The Chief Minister also called upon the media to exercise restraint and report the issue objectively. She also asked the political class of Tamil Nadu to desist from making inflammatory speeches on the issue, which would vitiate the cordial relations between people of the two States.
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