Kerala objects to NSG’s dam inspection

Dec. 10: An NSG team inspected the disputed Mullaiperiyar reservoir on Wednesday.
PWD officials said the NSG team’s visit to the dam site was part of its nation-wide exercise of inspecting important dams and reservoirs in the country.

“A team of four members headed by Capt Srinivas from Chennai studied the security aspects of the dam. Though it is nothing but a routine visit, Kerala forest officials made a hue and cry preventing them from going to the dam by our PWD boat,” said a top official.

However, after the NSG official spoke to the higher officials of the Kerala government explaining the purpose of their visit, they allowed the team to the boatyard in Thekkady. The dam situated in Kerala is administered by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources said the team members were also prevented by the Kerala police from inspecting the baby dam. “Only after an argument, the Kerala police on duty at the dam site permitted them to perform their duty,” the official, who accompanied them, said.

Highly-placed intelligence sources said the Centre had dispatched teams of NSG to ascertain the security aspects of critical infrastructure including power stations.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government reacted sharply to the security evaluation of the NSG claiming that the state was kept in dark about its visit.

“The Kerala government is not against a central team or engineers from TN visiting Mullaperiyar reservoir. But, the state government was not informed about yesterday’s visit and so it is a cause for concern,” irrigation minister Premachandran said.