The expert committee deputed by the State government to inspect the Mullaperiyar dam has reported that danger is looming over Kerala on account of the old and rapidly deteriorating dam.
The committee has said the construction of a new dam is the only viable, practical and engineering solution to escape from “the looming danger of a certain calamity” now hanging over the people of the State.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday along with Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, former Chief Engineer of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) M.K. Parameswaran Nair, who heads the committee, said all the three dams of the Idukki project would fail if the Mullaperiyar dam gave way. The expert said that 216.5 million cubic metres of water would flow over the Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams in the event of a failure of the Mullaperiyar dam. The Mullaperiyar reservoir holds 316.5 million cubic metres of water. At its current level, the Idukki reservoir could hold only an additional 100 million cubic metres of water.
The committee has noticed more seepage openings, which will cause more severe safety problems when the water level goes up. Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran has demanded that the Centre intervene to facilitate proper inspection of the Mullaperiyar dam.
Mr. Premachandran said the dam, which was more than 110 years old, could not withstand an earthquake of magnitude between 3 and 5 on the Richter scale which was probable in the area. The baby dam had deteriorated beyond any strengthening measures.
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