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Mullaperiyar

Mullaperiyar Dam is constructed over the headwaters of the Periyar River in Kerala, The Periyar National Park, Thekkady is located around the Periyar reservoir formed by the backwaters of this dam. It is operated by the Government of Tamil Nadu according to a 999-year lease agreement made during erstwhile British colonial rule.

The dilapidated Mullaperiyar dam is dangling like the sword of Damocles over the heads of millions of people living in the five districts of the State. To solve this threat State Government sought the urgent intervention of the Prime Minister in this matter. The only solution to this problem of a century and a decade old dam built up of stone and lime is to build a new dam using modern technology. The matter was presented by the Chief Minister before the conference of the MPs of the State at Thiruvananthapuram and requested them to put concerted pressure on the Centre to urgently accept the need for building a new dam.

Later, Water Resources Minister drew the attention of the press towards the condition of the dam as it was observed by the expert committee. They examined the dam when the water level was at the lowest level of 109 feet and found massive erosion of plastering made on the surface of the dam. Deep fissures have been formed inside the dam from one end to the other end, as a result of displacement of granite blocks. If this was the condition at the level of 109 feet it would be much more worse at still lower levels where the pressure of water is great. The dam will not be able to withstand even a small disturbance. The 14 pressure gauges set up by the Tamil Nadu Government are not functioning properly. The committee also called for mapping the dam at the lower levels by using under water camera.

Mullaperiyar Dam Issue

The Mullaperiyara Dam stand-off has received yet another jolt from Tamil Nadu threatening to withdraw from talks scheduled on Monday.

This decision comes following Kerala sending a team of naval experts to inspect the safety of the reservoir which it called back following central intervention. It has been reported that strong words have been exchanged in this regard between chief ministers M Karunanidhi and V S Achuthanandan who accused each other of indulging in provocative acts.

Irked, Karunanidhi has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that Tamil Nadu would not be in a position to attend the talks with Achuthanandan in Delhi on Monday if Kerala continued to indulge in unfair and provocative acts.

Warning that his state would move to Supreme Court , Karunanidhi lambasted certain remarks made by Achuthanandan and politicians from Kerala, which, he said, were irresponsible and provocative.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government has asked the 19-member naval team to give up its mission following Centre's intervention in response to Tamil Nadu's objections. Kerala's Water Resources Minister Premachandran meanwhile has said that Kerala will continue to do all that is necessary to safeguard its interests in the issue, and that the government is keen to avoid provocative steps.

Achuthandandan stated that Karunanidhi's intervention is suspious. The reservoir stood on the land leased to Tamil Nadu by Kerala and that it did not require advance permission of the neighbour state to assess the dam's safety. Kerala is concerned about the safety of life and property of 3.5 million people in five districts.