Going ahead with its crisis management programme for the Mullaperiyar dam, the Kerala Government today said it has completed the ‘dam-break analysis' at the 116-year-old reservoir over which it is locked in dispute with Tamil Nadu.
Giving details of the disaster management plan, Water Resources Minister, Mr P. J. Joseph, told the Assembly as a first phase, the Government had also completed the study of ‘Dam-Break Flood situation' from Mullaperiyar reservoir to the downstream Idukki dam. The studies were conducted by IIT-Roorkee.
Mr Joseph was replying to a calling attention motion of Ms E. S. Bijimol (CPI), who wanted the Government to take steps to ensure the safety of the residents living in the area between the two dams.
According to the analysis report, the water level down the Mullaperiayar dam area would rise by 40.30 m and in Idukki dam, which is about 36 km from Mullaperiyar, the level would go up to 20.85 m, if anything adverse happens to the reservoir.
A calamity, if it happens, would directly affect 32,503 people and 8,942 houses in seven villages situated down the dam as per a preliminary study by the Government, he said.
Sixty nine shelters would have to be built for the safety of people and total cost estimated for the construction was Rs 20 crore. The dam-break analysis between Idukki dam to Arabian Sea area in Kochi was progressing, Mr Joseph said.