Kerala's dam opening unusual, says safety authority chief

Kozhikode: The opening of the 25 dams at one go is an 'unusual situation,' Kerala Dam Safety Authority chairman VN Ramachandran Nair has said.

“It could be for the first time that such a large number of dams have been opened together. I can say for sure, this is an unusual situation during my five-year term too. Dams are not even opened every year," Justice Ramachandran Nair said.

“Some 100 mm rain a day is something unusual. It is torrential rain. Our low-lying areas like Kuttanad are prone to flooding. Houses are built by reclaiming paddy fields. Large complexes too have come up, replacing paddy fields. Some calamities are invited, luckily, this time, we got ample time to prepare ahead of the flood. Overflowing of a dam is not dam burst,” he said.

“To an extent, people are to be blamed for landslides. They encroach on sensitive areas and construct houses, without any scientific knowledge. People get buried under debris in the event of landslide and such calamities. Such accidents could be averted with some planning. Those who are forced to encroach out of poverty, should be rehabilitated (by the government) safely,” the chairman added.

Five dams in Palakkad, four each in Thrissur and Idukki, three in Thiruvananthapuram, two each in Ernakulam, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta, and one each in Kollam, Kannur and Kozhikode were opened in the state.

List of opened Dams in Kerala as of Thursday, 07.09pm

TVM - Peppara, Aruvikkara & Neyyar (3)

KLM - Thenmala (1)

PTN - Kakki, Anathode (2)

IDKI - Cherthoni, Malankara, Kallarkutty & Lower Periyar (4)

EKM - Idamalayar & Bhuthathankettu (2)

TSR - Perigalkuthu, Lower Sholayar, Peechi, Vazhani (4)

PLKD - Malampuzha, Mangalam, Pothundi, Kajirampuzha, Shiruvani (5)

WYND - Banasura Sagar & Karapuzha (2)

KNR - Pazhasi (1)

KOZKD - Kakkayam (1)

Total: 25