The GREATEST PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE ever discovered by the human mind, finds a place in the BIBLE at PROVERBS Chapter 26 Verse 13, which is as folllows:-
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
A slothful man’s interpretation of the PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE is motivated by his own PROCLIVITY. The slothful man wants to be idle. He is IDLE not because he doesn’t have work, but he doesn’t see IMMEDIATE PROFIT in his labour. The slothful man by looking for IMMEDIATE PROFIT, has lost his WORK CULTURE. Work by itself is not paying, if WORK is to be profitable one needs a man with CAPITAL. Because, a part of the capital would turn into the WAGES for the workman’s LABOUR. It is that wages when wisely invested and utilized by the WORKMAN, over a period of time turns to CAPITAL in his own hands. But, who can wait with HOPE for so long and burn up 25 years of one’s LIFE? cries the SLUGGARD. So what does the sluggard do? CREATE FEAR PSYCHOSIS and indulge in scare mongering that a LION IS IN THE STREETS. No need for any proof, just spread canards and unfounded theories. Can one dignify this as the PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE? No, NOT AT ALL.
In the MULLAIPERIAR ISSUE (mullaperiyar for my brethren from Kerala, who have a penchant for slurring over vowels and connecting consonants – eg. MULLAI + PERIYAR becomes MULLAPERIAR the ‘ai’ is slurred and in INCOME, the N+K becomes NG), the principle pleaded by the Lawyers representing Kerala is that as a matter of abundant cautela, since the scientific community is not in unison on the invulnerability of the Mullaiperiar dam, and as this involves the life of the Keralites, the Mullaiperiar dam is to be decommissioned and a new dam is to be constructed!
Just a few weeks back, the news papers had reported that out of the 183 countries assessed by the World Bank, India is said to rank 182 in ENFORCEMENT OF CONTRACTS. Not surprising at all, as the reasons adduced are not only specious, but the solutions offered are too BIASED in favour of Kerala.
Look at the AGREEMENT entered into between the Presidency of Madras and the Maharaja of Travancore in the late 19th century. The avowed reason for building the dam was not merely to supply water to the districts of Madurai, Ramnad etc., but also to fish in the dam and use the waters of the dam for such other purposes as desired by the Madras state. The spin-off was that the then Tampuran was able to control the inundation of a few areas of the then Travancore state. So the spin off was not mentioned as an EXPLICIT BENEFIT to Travancore state, yet the benefit aspired, and utilized by the Madras state was to be paid for as the Lease money. Then HYDRO POWER generation also started and the spin-offs for the ENDURANCE of Tamil Nadu had started accruing. In concession to the idle Keralites, payments was made as license fee for such generation and also the fishing rights were surrendered- all after DEMOCRACY HAD SET IN, IN KERALA after Independence. Now the benefits for Tamil Nadu is much more than the benefits which is accruing to Kerala. The land rates have sky rocketed and the tourism industry could do well with space around the periphery of Mullaiperiar. So KERALA WANTS TO RESILE FROM THE CONTRACT. AND IN KEEPING WITH THEIR NATURE are making a new offer of a new dam, when the matter for determination before the Supreme Court is whether the structure would be safe at 152 feet after reinforcement of the existing structure. SIMPLE. But the boys are boys and WANT to be boys, that is disheartening.
According to an Ex PWD Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Durai Murugan, the Government of Kerala DID NOT GIVE ELECTRICITY CONNECTION TO THE PWD SITE OFFICE at MULLAIPERIAR! Would an Ex- Minister lie on the face of records? Nay. Bot the present CM of Kerala says, “If the political leadership of both the states meet, the issue would be sorted out in 5 minutes!” What a JOKE? Here is a CM who instead of honouring the Supreme Court verdict gets a contrary bill passed in the Assembly calls for a meeting!
It is time the political honchos of Kerala sit together and FIND A WAY OF HONOURING A CONTRACT ENTERED BETWEEN THEIR TAMPURAN AND THE FORMER MADRAS STATE, instead of making these SLUGGISH REMARKS, which are devoid of any sensible content or intent.
It is time Mr. Oommen Chandy issues orders to the briefing officials not to resort to PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE, which is used PRIOR TO EXECUTIVE DECISION MAKING and NOT FOR RENEGING FROM CONTRACT,,WHICH HAVE BEEN IN FORCE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
Truly speaking, the only solution to this problem is that we from Tamil Nadu return Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, Vilavancode and Thovalai taluks to Kerala and get back Devikulam and Peermedu taluks from Kerala…………..MY DEAD UNCLES WOULD RISE UP FROM THEIR GRAVES AND KILL ME, if i make this suggestion seriously!
But boys stop preening to attract girls and GROW UP, some day you have to become MEN and OWN UP TO THE CONTRACTS MADE BY OUR FATHERS and FOREFATHERS too!
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