Kerala changes stand on Mullaperiyar issue

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarai  Vijayan said in Delhi on Saturday that the Mullaperiyar issue should be solved through discussions.

The Chief Minister said that the report that the dam is safe could not be dismissed. Further talks should be over this report.

Mr. Vijayan was talking to the media after meeting Prime Minister Narendara Modi.

He said that the Prime Minister agreed, in principle, to support prices of rubber. Kerala could be a model in two areas— total sanitation and digitisation of records.

He had agreed to remove hurdles in the implementation of GAIL pipeline project in the State.  The meeting was cordial. Mr. Modi assured that funds would not be a problem in implementation of GAIL and other projects including deep sea fishing and promotion of Ayurveda.

The Chief Minister also called on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Mr. Jaitley urged that Kerala should support the Goods and Services Tax which would be beneficial to the State. Mr. Vijayan agreed to look into the matter.

Mr. Singh broached the subject of BJP-CPI (M) clashes in the State. Mr. Vijayan said that he would do his part to restore peace if Mr. Singh would restrain his party men.

Mr. Vijayan also called on President Pranab Mukherji and Vice president M. Hamid Ansari.  Mr. Vijayan, who was on his first visit to Delhi as Chief Minister, was accorded a reception by Kerala’s Resident Commissioner in Delhi Gyanesh Kumar and staff of Kerala House.