The Hindu : Front Page : Kerala to seek Central intervention on Mullaperiyar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 15, 2007
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Kerala to seek Central intervention on Mullaperiyar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to seek Central intervention to address the danger posed by the Mullaperiyar dam.

Briefing presspersons on the decisions of the weekly Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said an expert committee deputed by the State government had found that the dam was facing serious risk. The seepage at several points of the dam had increased following a rise in the water level to 138.2 feet on November 6. “The situation is very serious.” The Chief Minister said the report of the expert committee on weakening of the dam would be brought to the notice of the Central government, Tamil Nadu and the Supreme Court.

Joint monitoring

Joint monitoring and inspection of the dam was needed urgently, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the State government would request the Centre to mediate for an urgent solution to the problem.Immediate steps were called for in view of the seriousness of the issue.

He reiterated that the government would go ahead with the proposal for the construction of a new dam.

This was necessary to ensure the safety of people living down stream of the dam and also to supply water to Tamil Nadu.

PTI reports:

Considering the safety of the dam, the Kerala government fixed 136 feet as the maximum storage level, though Tamil Nadu has been pressing for raising it to 142 feet.

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