This Article is From Dec 09, 2011

Mullaperiyar dam row: Thousands line up to create human wall

Mullaperiyar dam row: Thousands line up to create human wall
Vandiperiyar: In a show of strength, the CPI(M)-led LDF on Thursday mobilised thousands of people to create a 298-km-long human chain. This was done to press the demand for replacing the Mullaperiyar dam, an issue that has led to fresh friction between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Seeking to mount pressure on the Tamil Nadu government, a special one-day session of the Kerala Assembly has been convened tomorrow to discuss the snowballing row that has triggered stray violence in both states.

Kerala Pradesh Congress president Ramesh Chennithala also observed a one-day fast in Thiruvanthapuram, as part of the campaign for a new dam which Kerala is insisting upon. The state  believes the existing 116-year-old reservoir dam is not safe.

In Tamil Nadu, security was beefed up for shops owned by Keralites after activists of fringe Tamil groups targeted some of them on Thursday in Chennai and some other parts of the state. No untoward incident was reported.

MDMK chief Vaiko observed a day-long fast in Theni, a district bordering Kerala and close to the Mullaperiyar dam, opposing Kerala's move to build a new reservoir.

Concerned over incidents of violence, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appealed to all sections of people not to whip up parochial sentiments.

He also said all political parties in the state were united on the dam issue.


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