Minister meets Krishna Iyer

Kerala - Kochi
Premachandran calls on Krishna Iyer

Staff Reporter

Iyer hands over document containing information about water resources in the State

KOCHI: The former judge of the Supreme Court V.R. Krishna Iyer on Friday handed over a document containing authentic information about the resources of water in the State to Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran.

The document, which was half-a-century old, was in the possession Mr. Iyer, who was Minister for Irrigation in the first Cabinet of Kerala.

The Minister called on Mr. Iyer at his residence. While handing over the report, Mr. Iyer remembered T.P. Kuttyamu and Vaidyanathan, the engineers who had prepared it. "The voice of the engineers who prepared this report still echoes in my ears," said Mr. Iyer.

The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had commented this report in the Lok Sabha and had asked other States to make this a model.

Mr. Premachandran was seeking the blessings of Mr. Iyer who had handled the portfolios of Home and Irrigation in the E.M.S. Namboodiripad Government of 1957.

The Minister told Mr. Iyer that the Government was planning to formulate a new water policy and sought valuable tips from his predecessor. Mr. Iyer replied that he would send the suggestions, but the only impediment was his health.

Mr. Iyer reminded the Minister that nobody should be allowed to exploit the public by taking control of our water resources.
(The Hindu, Sunday, July 23, 2006)