TN nominates representatives to Mullaperiyar dam issue

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi made this announcement in the state assembly on Wednesday. The Apex Court, while hearing petitions by Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments on the dam issue, had constituted a committee headed by Justice A S Anand, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to resolve the dispute.

The committee consisted of two representatives of the Centre, one each from Tamil Nadu and Kerala besides Justice Anand. Kerala government has already nominated Justice K T Thomas, former Supreme Court Judge, as its nominee.

Karunanidhi, making a suo motu statement in the assembly, said Tamil Nadu Advocate General had expressed the opinion that the state should participate in the panel. "For us, the verdict in the case filed by the state in the Supreme Court, is imporant," he said. The apex court has rejected the state government's recall petition for withdrawal of its order to appoint a representative on the committee, he said.

Tamil Nadu had earlier said that there was no need for nominating a representative. The Centre has also asked the state to nominate its representative in the panel, Karunanidhi said.