A special one-day session of the Kerala Assembly is being convened on Friday to discuss the Mullaperiyar dam issue.
This is being done with a view “reflecting the public sentiment” prevailing in the State on the dam issue, over which it has differences with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
HUMAN WALL
The special session would cap a week of frenetic developments in the case, with the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) erecting a ‘human wall' extending from the ‘dam site to the Arabian Sea' just on the eve of the session.
Earlier on Wednesday, the State Cabinet had decided to file a fresh and comprehensive affidavit in the High Court of Kerala before December 15 when a related case comes up next for hearing.
It also deputed a Cabinet Sub-Committee on the job, which would discuss threadbare the issue with the Advocate-General and officials in charge of disaster management, revenue, power, and water resources.
An interim appeal would be filed before the Supreme Court by incorporating the observations from a ‘dam break analysis' commissioned by the State Government.
IIT-ROORKEE REPORT
Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee has been assigned the mandate for preparing this crucial document which studies the impact from and ramifications of a possible dam-break scenario.
The Revenue Minister would go to Roorkee for discussions on the subject, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, had said while addressing newspersons here on Wednesday.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal for setting up a community-based disaster management unit at Idukki under the State Disaster Management Authority.
A digital elevation modelling satellite map would be prepared as part of the disaster-mitigation plans at Mullaperiyar. An amount of Rs 2 crore is being sanctioned to the State Disaster Mitigation Fund for this purpose.
KSEB CONCERN
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has expressed concerns about a brewing crisis from a decision to run power generators overtime at downstream Idukki project to bring down the water level.
This is being done with a view to ensuring spare capacity in the event of a need for emptying water impounded at Mullaperiyar.
But this would also reduce the generation capacity at Idukki, and force the State to purchase power at higher prices.
This could lead to a resource crunch and a further widening of KSEB's revenue gap from the present Rs 1,300 crore to Rs 1,500 crore.
OPPOSING DEMANDS
Kerala has stuck steadfast to its demand for decommissioning the ageing dam structure at Mullaperiyar and constructing a new one some distance away.
Tamil Nadu is not agreeable to both the demands, and has reiterated that the dam is safe, a fact taken on record by the Supreme Court.