'Congress will oppose any move by Kerala to build new Mullaperiyar dam'

Udhagamandalam/Coimbatore: Congress will oppose tooth and nail any move by Kerala to construct a new Mullaperiyar dam, which would affect the interests of Tamil Nadu, TNCC president E V K S Elangovan said here on Sunday.

"TNCC will oppose tooth and nail any move by Kerala for building a new dam. This (Environmental Impact Assessment by the Centre) was a clearance only to do a study and not for building a new dam, which will affect Tamil Nadu's interests," he told reporters here.

The Centre had recently accorded clearance to Kerala for an EIA study to construct a new Mullaperiyar dam.

The TNCC president was speaking on the sidelines of unveiling a life-size bronze statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in Udhagamandalam.

Former Union minister and senior Congress leader R Prabhu, actress Khushboo, who recently joined Congress, and a large number of party workers were present.

Earlier talking to reporters at Mettupalayam, he said Congress had already announced a two-day protest on December 17 and 18 to seek withdrawal of 15 per cent hike in power tariff effected by Tamil Nadu government.

"If the hike is not withdrawn, party workers and leaders will not pay the current charges," he said.

Asked about his views on MDMK leaving the NDA alliance, he said Vaiko had done so after realising the 'wrong policies' of BJP.