Widespread protest over Mullaperiyar dam issue

 Monday, November 28, 2011: A group of activists of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) took out a march to the residence of Union Minister of Defence A. K. Antony here protesting against his alleged inaction in resolving the Mullaperiyar issue.
The police stopped the protesters about a 100 metres from the house using barricades, and a few of the protesters tried to climb over the barricades.
The protesters said that Mr. Antony should show concern over the lives of people of Idukki district who faced serious risk from the 116-year-old dam.
Meanwhile the Kerala Congress (Mani) leader and Idukki MLA Roshy Augustine began a hunger strike in front of the office of the Accountant General here on Monday demanding construction of a new dam to replace the existing Mullaperiyar dam.
Augustine said that it was high time the Central Government intervened in the issue.“The Central Government should take serious notice of the concerns raised about the dam safety and find a permanent solution to the issue,” he said.