An empowered committee appointed by Supreme Court on Mullaperiyar Dam dispute, will visit the dam site this month to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the claims made by Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The dates of the visit, which are agreeable to the two states, will be decided later this week.

The committee, headed by former Chief Justice of India A S Anand which met in New Delhi on Monday, is expected to submit its report on the controversial issue by February.

At Monday's meeting, both Kerala and Tamilnadu submitted their views on the Mullaperiyar dam.

Meanwhile, different leaders and ministers from Kerala have welcomed the willingness of Tamil Nadu government to start official level talks in the Mullapperiyar dam safety issue.

Expressing confidence that the issue can be settled outside the court rooms, KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala has described the development as positive. He said that the Centre is making all efforts to sort out the issue amicably.

The state cabinet is holding an emergency meeting in Thiruvananthapuram late tonight to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, mass agitation supported by different political parties of Kerala is continuing in Idukki. Ministers K M Mani and P J Joseph observed satyagraha in Idukki and Delhi respectively in support of the agitation.

Congress party will be joining the mass movement on Tuesday. AIR correspondent reports that, the state government is planning to seek assistance of experts from Russia and Japan to analyse the impact of frequent tremors in Idukki district.