Chennai : Following the conclusion of the 31st Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Kovalam, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that southern states have collectively agreed to request the central government to retain the 1971 census for the allocation of parliamentary seats in order to prevent any increase in seat numbers.
Shivakumar said, “The meeting has gone well. We have raised various issues in the interest of all southern states. We have appealed to the Union Home Minister that the 1971 census should be used and there should be no increase of seats in the Parliament. That is the main agenda. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Karnataka have all come to the same agreement.”
Regarding the Mekedatu dam dispute, the Deputy Chief Minister assured neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Puducherry that their water share remains secure. “I have made a commitment to the state of Tamil Nadu before the Home Minister that whatever Mekedatu Dam water is there, even a single drop of water, except for drinking water of 5 TMC, the rest of the water will be left to Tamil Nadu itself. So Tamil Nadu and Puducherry shall rest assured. The dam will be built only for you, not for us,” he added.
On the matter of the Mullaperiyar Dam, Tamil Nadu Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar disputed claims made by the Kerala government, asserting that Tamil Nadu is committed to complying with the Supreme Court’s directives. “What Keralam is saying is not correct on Mullaperiyar Dam, and we need to obey what the Supreme Court is saying. The dam has full stability,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction with the dialogue held with the central government, Nirmal Kumar said the state government was able to effectively present its requirements to the Union Home Minister. “The meeting went very well. We were able to push all our needs across to the Union government. It was a very useful meeting,” he added.
The Southern Zonal Council consists of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. Chief Ministers attending the meeting included DK Shivakumar, Chandrababu Naidu, VD Satheesan, and Revanth Reddy.
