The Hindu : Idukki dam safe: Kadavoor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 07, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Idukki dam safe: Kadavoor

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 6. There is no threat to the safety of the Idukki dam, according to the Power Minister, Kadavoor Sivadasan.

There have been instances of rock pieces on the adjacent Kuravanmala giving way, but no fresh cracks have been detected on other rock formations in the vicinity, the Minister told the Assembly today.

Replying to questions from A.D. Musthafa, T.N. Prathapan, E.M. Augusthy, Benoy Viswam, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and P.T. Thomas, Mr. Sivadasan said that the Kuravanmala and Kurathimala were safe, too. Timely maintenance work was being taken up to ensure the safety of the dam.

The Government has also decided to award a contract to remove sand from the Idukki dam reservoir. The decision was made in view of the prevailing shortage of sand. A study is being conducted to assess the quantity of sand available in the reservoir, he said.

The Ayyappa temple in the catchment area does not pose a security threat to the dam. The Government is willing to send an Assembly committee to the site to ascertain if any such threat existed at all, Mr.Sivadasan said.

`Declare Padmanabhapuram Palace as heritage monument'

The State Government has recommended to the Centre that the Padmanabhapuram Palace be declared as a world heritage monument. All steps have been taken in this regard, the Minister for Archives and Archaeology, T.M. Jacob, told A.P. Anil Kumar, M.K. Paulson Master, N. Sakthan and K.A.Chandran. The Government has also taken steps to remove an encroachment on 15 cents of the palace land.

A history museum would be set up at the Kottukkal cave temple in Kollam.

The Government has already initiated steps to protect the Bekal Fort. Permission would not be given to demolish heritage buildings in Fort Kochi, he said.

Work on the second phase of the heritage museum at the Thripunithura Hill Palace is nearing completion.

Mr. Jacob said he would visit the residence of the late Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and look into the complaints about its maintenance. The Government had acquired the property at a price of Rs. 8 lakhs.

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