Water level reaches 133 feet in Mullaperiyar Dam; concerns over safety

Kumili: Adopting an adamant attitude in the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Tamil Nadu has insisted on allowing the water level to rise to the maximum permissible limit of 142 feet. The spillway shutters will be opened at 142 feet and it is Kerala’s responsibility to ensure the safety of people living downstream, according to Tamil Nadu officials.

Tamil Nadu’s position was revealed by representatives of that state during a meeting of the Mullaperiyar sub-committee. They rejected Kerala’s plea to draw as much water as possible to reduce the water level. Water level in the dam is 133 feet at present.

The five-member sub-committee visited the dam in the backdrop of a steady rise in water level. The panel checked whether the shutters were functioning and the magnitude of seepage. Headed by Central Water Resources department executive engineer V Rajesh, the sub-committee has Kerala Water Resources department executive engineer Sony Devasya and assistant executive engineer N S Praseed as the state’s representatives.

While 6,000 cusecs of water flows into the dam, Tamil Nadu takes away only 2,100 cusecs. The water level rose from 112 feet to 133 feet in two months.

Tamil Nadu has plans to raise the level to 142 feet and later to 152 feet after obtaining the permission from the Supreme Court. Its intention is to prove that the dam is safe even when the level is 142 feet. The apex court granted permission to fix the maximum level on May 7, 2014. Subsequently, the level touched 142 feet in November 2014 and December 2015. The spillway shutters can be opened only when level reaches 136 feet.

Tamil Nadu has also rejected Kerala’s demand to prepare a shutter operating manual. The sub-committee had found that the shutter operating dials in the spillway gave wrong readings. When Kerala officials pointed this out, Tamil Nadu admitted that the entire 13 shutter dials needed correction.

Baby dam weak

The biggest hurdle before Tamil Nadu for raising the level to 152 feet is the weakness of the Baby dam. Tamil Nadu is now planning to build supporting a dam to strengthen the Baby dam. However, Kerala is objecting to this move.

Repairs of the dam can be carried out under the aegis of the three - member committee set up by the Supreme Court. With Kerala strongly opposing the move to build a supporting dam, Tamil Nadu’s move in this direction reached nowhere. Kerala had pointed out that building a supporting dam meant that a new dam would come up in the area.

Tamil Nadu which earned a favourable verdict from the court by arguing that the Mullaperiyar dam is strong, cannot openly admit that the Baby dam is weak. So, that state cannot approach the court seeking permission to build the supporting dam.

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