TN to skip Mullaiperiyar meet

CHENNAI: Sticking to its stand on the Mullaiperiyar dam issue, Tamil Nadu government has decided to boycott the informal discussions on the issue convened by the Centre at New Delhi on December 5 even as Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy expressed hopes of an early official level meeting.  “It has been decided that the Government of Tamil Nadu will not participate in the informal discussion on Mullaiperiyar issue,” Public Works Secretary M Saikumar, said in a statement, quoting Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi. In his letter to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa dated December 1, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said: “I have advised the Ministry of Water Resources to arrange an early meeting between officials of the two sides to sort out outstanding issues and allay genuine concerns.”Reports said the Water Resources Ministry planned the meeting as Tamil Nadu officials would be in Delhi to appear before the Mullaiperiyar Empowered Committee on Monday. But most political parties, except DMK and Congress, have opposed the idea of holding talks. Meanwhile, the Kerala government will file an interim petition before the Supreme Court seeking lowering of water level in the dam to 120 ft.