Claiming that Tamil Nadu has hinted that they were the owners of the land where the disputed Mullaperiyar dam is situated, Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani on Tuesday said it was not correct and asserted his state was committed to building a new dam in place of the old one.
Indication in the address of Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah to the state assembly on Monday that the dam and land's onwership rest with Tamil Nadu cause concern to Kerala, Mani told reporters in Thiruvanathapuram.
The existing dam was situated on the land leased by Kerala and state was the actual owner of the land, he said.
Making it clear that Kerala would not back out from its proposal to build a new dam considering the safety of the people of the state, Mani said construction of new dam was not a new idea. It was there for past several years.
The procedure for the construction of the new dam was progressing, Mani, leader of the Kerala Congress (M), said.
Kerala would continue to put pressure on Centre for getting sanction for the new dam, he said when pointed out that the one month time suggested by Prime Minister to find a solution to the dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the dam had expired.
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