Chennai, May 5 (PTI): Welcoming the Supreme Court Empowered Committee's report on the controversial Mullaperiyar Dam, MDMK leader Vaiko today said that the people of Kerala should realise that the dam is safe. Vaiko, who had staged a series of protests in connection with this issue earlier, also asked the people of that state to ignore the "unjust plans," of political parties in Kerala regarding the dam stand-off. "The five-member committee has in its report said the dam is strong and that the recent tremors had had no impact on it... At least now the people of Kerala should ignore the unjust plans of the political parties and realise that there is no threat to the dam," he said in a statement. Slamming Kerala's proposal for talks to solve the matter, he also said that the Central Planning Commission or Environment Ministry should not approve any plans by Kerala to construct a new dam. The SC-appointed Empowered Committee had on Friday in its report vouched for the safety of the 119 year-old dam, which has led to a stand-off between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Kerala insists that the existing dam be demolished on the grounds of safety while Tamil Nadu holds that it is strong.
