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Rise in Mullaperiyar reservoir level causes serious concern

Special Correspondent

Kerala Water Resources Minister, Leader of the Opposition to visit dam site

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The water level in Mullaperiyar reservoir in Kerala's Idukki district has surpassed the permissible limit of 136 feet and is climbing with each passing hour, raising fresh fears about the safety of the lime and mortar dam built over a hundred years ago.

By 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the water level had reached 139.6 feet, Minister for Water Resources Thiruvanchiyoor Radhakrishnan informed the State Assembly.

Of the 13 shutters of the spillway over which excess water could be let out into the Periyar leading to the Idukki reservoir downstream, only two could be fully lifted till Wednesday morning. A team of engineers was on the spot trying to lift all the shutters so that the water level could be brought down to the safe limit, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.

He said he would reach Mullaperiyar on Thursday morning to see that the work was accomplished satisfactorily. Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan is also proceeding to the dam site.

Copious inflow into the reservoir following heavy rain in the catchments is one reason for the quick increase in the water level. The rate of inflow is over 6,000 cusecs and the release of water from the reservoir is not matching the inflow due to the problem with the shutters of the spillway. The entire water reaching Mullaperiyar reservoir is meant for Tamil Nadu as per the existing water pact between Kerala and that State.

However, a week ago, with the monsoon in full cry, the pipelines along which Tamil Nadu draws water from the reservoir developed some obstruction, preventing that State from making full use of the inflow.

The smooth operation of the shutters of the spillway leading to the Kerala side had become difficult mainly on account of rubble and mud that had collected around the spillway.

Mr. Radhakrishnan said officials of the Forest Department were helping the irrigation engineers in clearing the debris.

Originally, the dam had the capacity to hold water up to a level of 152 feet. The maximum permissible limit was brought down to 136 feet in 1979 when the dam developed leaks.

The Central Water Commission had recommended certain repair works on the dam then. The Tamil Nadu Government, which manages the affairs of the dam, had subsequently completed the recommended works.

The permissible water level, however, could not be restored to the original height due to objections from Kerala, which continues to nurse fears about the dam's safety. The dispute between the two States on this issue is before the Supreme Court.

The water that overflows from the Mullaperiyar reservoir goes straight to the Idukki dam, the biggest hydel reservoir in Kerala situated 30 km downstream.

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