Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin has assured that the ruling DMK would not give up the State’s rights on the Mullaiperiyar dam row with Kerala and said all steps would be taken to raise the storage level to its full capacoty of 152 ft.
In a statement announcing erection of a statue in London for British engineer Col John Pennycuick, who had constructed the Mullaiperiyar dam overcoming various hurdles and provided a livelihood for people and fulfilled the irrigation and drinking water needs in five southern districts, he said the State government was taking all steps to increase the storage level in the dam to 152 ft by putting forth strong arguments before the Supreme Court and High Court, besides in the Central Water Commission.
‘Let us resolve on Col John Pennicuickâs birth anniversary that our government will make continuous efforts to secure the rights of Tamilnadu and never give up our Stateâs rights on the Mullaiperiyar Dam’, the Chief Minister said.
Stalin also pointed out that the statue of John Pennicuick was unveiled by the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at PWD campus at Thallakulam in Madurai on 15 June, 2000 and later at Lower Camp in Theni as a tribute him.