Chandy meets TN minister, first high level meet on dam issue

Bangalore: In the first high-level bilateral interaction after the raging Mullaperiyar dam row broke out last month, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday had a meeting with Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O Panneerselvam here after which he said he wants to settle the issue.

Simultaneously, Chandy wrote a letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalithaa expressing willingness to issue a statement jointly with her to urge for peace, restraint and ensuring protection to all in the wake of reports of sporadic violence in the two neighbouring states over the dam issue.

"I expressed the view of Kerala to him (Panneerselvam)", Chandy said. "First time after this controversy we are meeting any leader from Tamil Nadu...first time", he added.

Chandy and Panneerselvam were here to attend the meeting convened by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with Chief Ministers of south zone states and union territories and CEOs of public sector banks and financial institutions.

Paneerselvam said he will convey Chandy's feelings to Jayalalithaa. The AIADMK supremo was not present at the meeting.

In a related development, Home Minister P Chidambaram withdrew his remarks referring to by-elections in the context of the Mullaiperiyar issue which created a furore in Kerala.

"Like some other speakers, I also made a passing reference to the forthcoming by-election. I take back that remark," he said in a statement in New Delhi.

Chidambaram came under atack from his Cabinet colleague and fellow Congress leader Vayalar Ravi for his remarks on Mullaperiyar. Describing as unfortunate the remarks, Ravi said it showed Chidambaram's "political immaturity".

Chandy said he clearly expressed to Panneerselvam that "our approach has been 'water for Tamil Nadu: safety for Kerala'". It's not a water issue at all, Chandy said.

Kerala was prepared to pass a legislation in the assembly and give it in writing in Supreme Court that it would give water to Tamil Nadu, he told reporters in Bangalore.

"We want to settle Mullaperiyar issue. We have to take care of the people downstream", Chandy said.

In his letter to Jayalithaa, Chandy expressed concern over reports of several instances of attacks on Keralites in Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar issue and requested her "to take firm action to contain the situation."