Kerala, Tamil Nadu face off over Mullaperiyar dam

[baker]

The Kerala government stepped up its demand on Wednesday for a new dam at Mullaperiyar and re-emphasized that the old dam is a disaster in waiting. It made an urgent appeal to the Tamil Nadu government to reduce the level of water in the 116-year-old leaky Mullaperiyar dam situated in the hilly Idukki district.

The appeal comes after IIT Roorkee experts pointed out that a quake in the region could lead to the dam bursting and bringing in untold misery for Kerala.

At a press conference called to highlight the lurking danger, Kerala water resources minister P. J. Joseph pointed out that the dam site and its surrounding areas have already been rocked by tremors 20 times since July.


The experts have warned that there can be a possibility of the area experiencing a quake as high as measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale and that the dam is too weak to withstand such a strong quake.

The Kerala water resources said only a new dam could avert the impending disaster. Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy said the state's prime concern was safety of the people and that Kerala was ready to bear the expense for building a new dam.

"The main worry of Tamil Nadu is whether it would get the present quantity of water once the new dam comes up. We are ready to give any undertaking to Tamil Nadu that it would be permitted to draw the present quantity of water," Joseph assured the neighbouring state.

He expressed hope that the Tamil Nadu government may change its adamant stance on the issue, keeping in mind the grim danger Kerala faces. " Chief minister Jayalalithaa and all parties in the state should co- operate with Kerala and create conducive situation to construct a new dam," Joseph said.


Disputing Tamil Nadu's argument that the dam is not weak, Joseph said as far back as in 1979, the Central Water Commission had found that the dam had outlived its life and recommended its decommissioning.

Chandy, who was in Delhi on Tuesday, also took up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to mediate with Tamil Nadu. He also appealed to the national parties to discuss the issue in Parliament and evolve a formula which would amicably resolve the issue.

The experts from IIT Roorkee, who conducted a study on the safety of the dam, are of the view that the area may get a quake of 6.5 intensity. In that event, the dam will collapse. The water in the dam would reach the Idukki dam on the downstream. It is not known whether the arch dam would be able to hold the additional quantity of water reaching from Mullaperiyar.

Though the dam, which was built with lime and surky (jaggery) is in the Kerala territory, the water and the dam is controlled by Tamil Nadu under an agreement between the British government and the princely state of Travancore nearly 120 years ago.

Kerala, Tamil Nadu face off over Mullaperiyar dam : South News - India Today

this is a kind of serious issue , hope both state reach some healthy conclusion soon

 

[baker]

actually Kerala govt is ready to retain the contact that exist for present Dam for the future Dam and ready to take all expense of Dam construction , then why the hell TN govt is not ready for construction

 

[Agent_47]

---------- Post added at 08:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 PM ----------

Tamil Nadu govt bans 'Dam 999'

 

[tamygu]

Tamilnadu on one side raises hue and cry over dangers of nuke power plant citing Chernobyl and Fukushima disater and not allowing Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to construct but when it comes to danger for other state people ie kerala from 100 yr old dam which can burst anytime affecting 2.5 million people, it throws all the cautions to the wind.What a hypocracy.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

Tamilnadu on one side raises hue and cry over dangers of nuke power plant citing Chernobyl and Fukushima disater and not allowing Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to construct but when it comes to danger for other state people ie kerala from 100 yr old dam which can burst anytime affecting 2.5 million people, it throws all the cautions to the wind.What a hypocracy.

When U dont have proper information dont comment on it. Neither the place is correct nor the time.

 

[ashokdeiva]

[/COLOR]Tamil Nadu govt bans 'Dam 999'

it is banned because you can not make a movie that might interven with the judgement of a case that is in the court.
that is called contempt of court.

 

[Marxist]

it is banned because you can not make a movie that might interven with the judgement of a case that is in the court.
that is called contempt of court.

a movie intervene (or influence) supreme court judgment ? ...do u think Indian judiciary is weak?

 

[baker]

When U dont have proper information dont comment on it. Neither the place is correct nor the time.

what information u need dude.... it is simply a political drama happening in TN...

Kerala govt is ready to agree to extend the present contact for the new dam so TN will get all the current benefits , so why all these hungama over these re construction...

 

[jayron]

Tamilnadu on one side raises hue and cry over dangers of nuke power plant citing Chernobyl and Fukushima disater and not allowing Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to construct but when it comes to danger for other state people ie kerala from 100 yr old dam which can burst anytime affecting 2.5 million people, it throws all the cautions to the wind.What a hypocracy.

Don't make such sweeping statement when you have no clue what's happening. The protest for nuclear power plant is by the public and not by the government. Mullai Periyar is a dispute between two governments. Supreme court's verdict is in favor of Tamil Nadu. But because Mullai Periyar is a political boogeyman in Kerala they are not honoring the verdict.

 

[jayron]

a movie intervene (or influence) supreme court judgment ? ...do u think Indian judiciary is weak?

It will influence the public's views and hence create unnecessary tension among the two states.

 

[baker]

Don't make such sweeping statement when you have no clue what's happening. The protest for nuclear power plant is by the public and not by the government. Mullai Periyar is a dispute between two governments. Supreme court's verdict is in favor of Tamil Nadu. But because Mullai Periyar is a political boogeyman in Kerala they are not honoring the verdict.

it is absolutely not a political situation kerala but the policatal parties in TN is making such a hype that DAM is safe and no need for reconstruction...

and about supreme court verdict , it is just because the contract is favor of TN .. and it made between brtish and madras providency and it has the validity of 999 years but the dams validity it self less than 50 yrs....

 

[janon]

Mullaperiyar Dam Issue - YouTube

 

[ashokdeiva]

what information u need dude.... it is simply a political drama happening in TN...

Kerala govt is ready to agree to extend the present contact for the new dam so TN will get all the current benefits , so why all these hungama over these re construction...

until the dam construction is over, will you support the lively hood of the TN farmers who depend on that dam of livelyhood.
the dam is quite stable, just don't comment based on possible earth quake which humans do not have the technology to predict.
if a earth quake happens there is no way even a brand new dam can withstand the force of the nature.

---------- Post added at 11:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------

a movie intervene (or influence) supreme court judgment ? ...do u think Indian judiciary is weak?

i am not saying that the court is weak, but its contempt of court to publish something that is a case before a bench of judges.
don;t you see even the PM does not comment in favour of one party when the case is in court.
i pity your understanding of the judicial system

 

[jayron]

it is absolutely not a political situation kerala but the policatal parties in TN is making such a hype that DAM is safe and no need for reconstruction...

and about supreme court verdict , it is just because the contract is favor of TN .. and it made between brtish and madras providency and it has the validity of 999 years but the dams validity it self less than 50 yrs....

The issue now is who will bare the cost of the dam. The supreme court has said that it will intervene only if Kerala is ready to bare the entire cost of building the dam. Kerala govt is not willing to do that.

 

[baker]

until the dam construction is over, will you support the lively hood of the TN farmers who depend on that dam of livelyhood.
the dam is quite stable, just don't comment based on possible earth quake which humans do not have the technology to predict.
if a earth quake happens there is no way even a brand new dam can withstand the force of the nature.

actually during this time not only TN farmers , farmers in kerala as well and large portion of our agriculture that solely import from TN , so obviously peoples in kerala also suffer a lot....
but my question is it worth more than lives of 3.5 million people...?

and u r saying dam is very much stable , all the experts those who visited dam pointed out , situation of the dam is not stable...
if you think dam is stable please provide some solid technical proof from ur side ... then i will be the most happiest person...

---------- Post added at 11:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

The issue now is who will bare the cost of the dam. The supreme court has said that it will intervene only if Kerala is ready to bare the entire cost of building the dam. Kerala govt is not willing to do that.

please read this quote from our CM
"Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy said the state's prime concern was safety of the people and that Kerala was ready to bear the expense for building a new dam."