Water level in Mullaperiyar dam nears 140 feet

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Water Resources P. J. Joseph told the Assembly that Kerala was repeatedly urging Tamil Nadu to divert water from Mullaperiyar Dam to Vaigai Dam in Tamil Nadu to avoid spillage.

Replying to questions, the Minister said that he hoped that Tamil Nadu would oblige. The State Government was also seeking intervention of the Union Government in the matter.

Mr. Joseph said that the water level in the reservoir had reached 139.9 feet. The inflow was of 1400 cusecs while Tamil Nadu was drawing only 250 cusecs of water. It had capacity to divert 2000 cusecs to Vaigai dam.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Kerala did not want to escalate the issue into a fight with Tamil Nadu. It stood by its stand that a new dam should be constructed. The State government had approached the NDA government seeking its intervention.

Noting that the people of Kerala are agitated over, Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan asked why the government was not taking steps for an international study on the safety of the dam.

CPI Member Bijimol asked why the government could not resettle people living downstream of the Dam.  There was no direct answer from the Minister on the questions raised by Mr. Achuthanandan and Ms. Bijimol.