Alappuzha, Friday 3 May 2011: The Kerala Government was firm on construction of a new dam across Mullaperiyar in view of the safety of the people living downstream in the state and did not want to stop water release to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Friday.

What matters more than politics was safety of people. Therefore there would be no going back on the decision to construct a new dam at Mullaperiyar, he told a meet-the-press programme here. He also said the Kerala Government was maintaining a good relationship with Tamil Nadu which should be continued.

“We are not against releasing water to Tamil Nadu.” To a query, he said his government would not target anybody with a revengeful attitude. “No one can become an accused merely because somebody raised allegations,” he added.

The government in principle agreed to set up a modernised hospital at Wayanad in co-operation with Sree Chithirathirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology. Three places had been identified and about 200 acre was required, he said, adding the government had allotted Rs.15 crore for acquiring land.

The government would also set up a godown of the Central Ware housing corporation having a capacity to procure 4000 tonnes on a two acre site in Purakkad in Ambalapuzha. He said the objective of the government was to make a corruption-free, pro-poor and pro-development state.