THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With serious differences arising between the CPM and CPI over Athirapally power project and Mullaperiyar dam, the Left leadership is keen to convene a LDF state committee meeting at the earliest to evolve a consensus on the contentious issues. The LDF state committee is yet to meet after the swearing in of Pinarayi Vijayan-led Government on May 25.
"We have not finalised the dates, but we will have a meeting soon," said LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan. Athirapally and Mullaperiyar on which chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan made unilateral statements, have created a rift between the two major Left parties. While Pinarayi had termed the opposition to Athirapally project as politically motivated, the CPI does not agree with the argument.
The CPM is also trying to convey that Athirapally project was part of the LDF election manifesto hence there was no change in its stand. However, CPI leaders have countered it saying though the LDF manifesto spoke about existing power projects, there was no mention of Athirapally.
A section of CPI leaders led by former environment minister Binoy Viswam are totally opposed to Athirapally project. They feel the state can do without it. They believe the state government needs to explore alternative sources of energy including solar and wind to meet the demand.
Differences have surfaced over the chief minister’s statement that the expert committee report on dam safety should be taken into consideration. The CPI believes that the government should stick to the spirit of Assembly resolution and all party meet decision which stressed on “water for Tamil Nadu and safety for people of Kerala.”
Peermedu MLA E S Bijimol who was in the forefront against the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to raise water level in the dam, hoped the local population would be taken on board while taking a stand on the issue. With the leaders of the two parties issuing contradictory statements, many left leaders want the LDF leadership to sit and evolve a unified stand on the contentious issues.
