Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 23 (IANS): With more than 20 small earthquakes since June hitting the area where the over century old Mullaperiyar dam is located, Kerala Wednesday made its stand clear that it wants a new dam at the spot and is ready to bear the cost.

Addressing reporters here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who returned from a three-day visit to Delhi, said the state's stand on the Mullaperiyar dam is that water for Tamil Nadu will be given at any cost, but at the same time Kerala's safety is of prime importance.

"We have made it clear to all concerned in Delhi that we will bear all the expense for constructing a new dam. Water will be certainly given to Tamil Nadu. We are really worried for the safety of the dam because it poses a threat to a huge population of the state," said Chandy.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the Mullaperiyar dam built under an agreement signed in 1886 between the then maharaja of Travancore and the British administration.

While the dam is located in Kerala's Idukki district, its waters serve Tamil Nadu. In recent years, Tamil Nadu has demanded that the dam's storage capacity be raised by increasing teh dam height from 136 feet (41.5 m) to 142 feet (43 m) to meet the increasing demand of water for irrigation.

While Kerala has been demanding a new dam, Tamil Nadu has been vehemently opposed to it. To break the deadlock, the Supreme Court early this year set up a high-level empowered committee to go into all issues, including the safety aspects, of the Mullaperiyar dam.

Chandy also clarified that his government has no plans to ban the film DAM 999, slated for release later this week.

"We have no such plans like in Tamil Nadu, who have asked for a ban of the film. The film is not the issue, instead the issue is the safety of our people who live in constant fear because of the old dam," he said.

Directed by Sohan Roy, "Dam 999" revolves around nine characters and their emotions against the backdrop of a cracking dam built during colonial rule.

The film, that will come out in English and several Indian languages, is a multi-starrer international venture with an ensemble cast staring Rajit Kapur, Joshua Fredric Smith, Linda Arsenio, Jaala Pickering, Ashish Vidyarthi, Vinay Rai, Vimala Raman, Megha Burman, Gary Richardson and Jineet Rath.