New Delhi, September 1 (IANS) An all-party delegation from Kerala led by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Thursday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review the government's decision to deny security clearance to the Vizhinjam container terminal.

The parties, including constituents of both Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party, also sought the prime minister's intervention to solve an inter-state dispute over heightening of Mullaperiyar dam with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu government.

The delegation, which met Manmohan Singh here, asked him to intercede in the matter and issue necessary directions to reconsider the central government's decision to deny security clearance to the development of Rs.43.40 billion deepwater international container transhipment terminal in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram.

Although tenders were called and companies - Kaidi Electric Power Company Ltd, Wuhan, China, Zoom Developers (Pvt) Ltd Mumbai and China Harbour Engineering Company group, Wuhan, China - were selected, the central government had earlier this month informed the state that the project could not be given security clearance.

"The proposed project aims to fulfil the need of international transhipment in a port in
India itself. Once completed, the port can cater to container carrier vessel sizes of 8,000 TEU in phase 1 and 10,000 and 12,000 TEUs subsequently," Achuthanandan said.

"We understand the security concerns of the government. But we want the prime minister to discuss it with the concerned members and find a way to take the project ahead," the chief minister told reporters here.

The Kerala leaders pointed out that the prime minister himself had agreed to lay the foundation stone for the coveted project. "The project and its huge investment in the state would trigger substantial infrastructure and socio-economic developments," the leaders pointed out in a memorandum to the prime minister.

An all-party meeting held in state earlier this month had adopted a resolution pointing out that the "denial of security clearance to the Chinese company-led consortium is discriminative as per international trade laws/agreements and it is a great setback to the long-standing efforts of Kerala state to develop Viszhinjam as transhipment hub port".

The state leaders also told Manmohan Singh that Tamil Nadu's move to go ahead with its decision to raise the height of Mullaperiyar dam at the border would put five districts in Kerala in danger.

"The condition on a recurrent earth tremor (in the dam area) will be hazardous, which will have serious repercussions on the safety of life and property of the people in five districts of Kerala - Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam,Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta."

"If Tamil Nadu is concerned about the water scarcity, we are worried about the lives of three million people. It is more a matter of security to the life and property than a legal issue," Achuthanandan said.

The Supreme Court had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the height of the dam from 136 to 142 feet, based on a report submitted by a central-appointed committee, which Kerala had disputed. "It was a dam meant for 60 years and now it has already covered 130 years," Kerala opposition leader Oommen Chandy, who was a part of delegation, said.