The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, has written to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, requesting that the water level at the century-old Mullaperiyar dam be brought down to ‘tolerable level' of 120 ft.
The level has risen to 136.6 ft on the back of a vigorous spell of northeast monsoon last week and has not retreated since, indicating reduced drawal by the neighbouring State.
SPECIAL SESSION
This needs to be reversed to reduce the load on the ageing structure, bearing of which is feared to have been compromised following the serial tremors in recent times.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the State Cabinet late on Wednesday night resolved to convene a special session of the Assembly on December 9, the Chief Minister said.
The meeting would try to give expression to ‘raised public concern' in the State over the health of Mullaperiyar dam.
Earlier, the State Government had taken a decision to lower the water level in downstream Idukki reservoir as a measure of abundant caution.
This is sought to be done with a view to keeping Idukki in readiness to receive the onrush of a huge volume of water from Mullaperiyar in case of a feared dam break.
POWER OUTPUT
Announcing this to newspersons here, the Chief Minister said reduction of the level at Idukki can only be achieved through running the generators overtime and raising the output.
This is fraught with the danger of the State likely finding it difficult to make both ends meet during the next summer.
But this is a small price that the State would be willing to pay for the lives of 3.5 million people residing in the four districts downstream of Idukki.
The State also has the option of exercising the legal option of approaching the Supreme Court to get the reservoir level in Mullaperiyar lowered to 120 feet, Mr Chandy said.
GOOD RELATIONS
But it did not want to precipitate matters, and would rather settle the issue amicably with Tamil Nadu without spoiling the good relations between the two neighbours.
Mr Chandy said the State Government has managed to convince the Central leadership of the seriousness of the situation.
The State Government proposed to build a new dam to ensure the safety of the people even while ensuring the supplies to Tamil Nadu at the current level.
It did not have a dispute with regard to either the quantum of water being supplied to Tamil Nadu nor its use.
Given this context, the Chief Minister said he could not reason why Tamil Nadu should oppose the proposal for a new dam.
The Chief Minister said he was confident that the people agitating for the decommissioning of the Mullaperiyar dam would show restraint and maintain calm. None should try to spoil the friendly relations with Tamil Nadu, he cautioned.