Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is unlikely to make much headway in resolving the thorny Mullaperiyar issue during a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, especially after Kerala branded as a farce Saturday's dam inspection by technical experts appointed by the Supreme Court's empowered panel.
Kerala's Mullaperiyar Special Cell chairman M.K. Parameswaran Nair said the inspection carried out by experts C.D. Thatte and D.K. Mehta was disappointing to Kerala.
Nair said Thatte's stand raised doubts on the impartiality on empowered committee report on dam safety to be submitted to the Supreme Court based on the experts' views, especially in the backdrop of Home Minister P. Chidambaram's recent remark that the apex court order would go in Tamil Nadu's favour.
The argument between the Kerala officials and Thatte began over the issue of sonic tests. Kerala said sonic testing was conducted only in one block, while Tamil Nadu engineers claimed tests were done in three blocks.
Thatte chose to accept Tamil Nadu's claim, Nair said. He pointed out that isotope testing was done only in one hole against the state's wish to test material from five holes.
Kerala's Mullaperiyar Special Cell chairman M.K. Parameswaran Nair said the inspection carried out by experts C.D. Thatte and D.K. Mehta was disappointing to Kerala.
Nair said Thatte's stand raised doubts on the impartiality on empowered committee report on dam safety to be submitted to the Supreme Court based on the experts' views, especially in the backdrop of Home Minister P. Chidambaram's recent remark that the apex court order would go in Tamil Nadu's favour.
The argument between the Kerala officials and Thatte began over the issue of sonic tests. Kerala said sonic testing was conducted only in one block, while Tamil Nadu engineers claimed tests were done in three blocks.
Thatte chose to accept Tamil Nadu's claim, Nair said. He pointed out that isotope testing was done only in one hole against the state's wish to test material from five holes.
