Claiming that Kerala's stand in favour of a new dam at Mullaperiyar was gaining acceptance, chief minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said the state government will reply to the supreme court empowered committee this week on ownership mechanism for the proposed dam.

"Kerala has no hidden agenda on the Mullaperiyar dam issue," Chandy asserted, a day after he said the state was ready for joint control with Tamil Nadu and the Centre, if a new dam is built in place of the existing 116-year-old structure over which the two states are locked in a dispute.

He reiterated his stand that Kerala,Tamil Nadu and the centre could have joint control of the proposed dam on the lines of Parambikulam-Aliyar and Siruvani dam agreements.

The demand for the construction of a new dam initially had remained as a requirement of the state, but the demand has been discussed before the empowered committee, he said, adding, it was a recognition for the united stantd taken by the people of Kerala and all political parties.

Inaugurating the Peoples' Mass Contact programme in Kannur.

Chandy said after the completion of such programmes in all the 14 districts, a meeting of officials would be called as a follow-up action.Through the programme a large number of people could be given assistance, he said.

About 25000 applications from the public had been received for consideration at the mass contact programme.