The tussle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the construction of Mullaiperiyar dam is picking up heat with the Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan deciding to go ahead with the project and the survey work is in progress at the proposed dam site, which is 300 meters away from the present dam.

Speaking on this, the Kerala Chief Minister said, “What we see is the rival fronts' politicians in Tamil Nadu blaming Kerala, which is only understandable and this is in a way cheating the people of both the states. Kerala will certainly continue to give water to Tamil Nadu as is being done, even when the new dam comes up.”

The Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Science and Technology and the Kerala Water Authority under the leadership of George Daniel started the survey at the Periyar Wild Life Reserve in Idukki district.

Meanwhile, a petition to stop the survey for the dam will be taken up by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.