The Hindu : New Delhi News : State wants to own and operate new dam

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New Delhi

State wants to own and operate new dam

J. Venkatesan

Affidavit says Tamil Nadu will get water for irrigation

‘Water supply to continue during work on dam'
Panel to visit dam from December 17

New Delhi: The Kerala government, on Monday, told the Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court on the Mullaperiyar dam issue that the work on a new dam to replace the existing one would take four years and the State would manage the structure after its construction.

In its affidavit to the committee, headed by the former Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand, Kerala said: “Ownership, operation and maintenance of a new Dam should vest absolutely in the State of Kerala. But the Regulation of waters from a New Dam would be handled by a Joint Committee of Engineers of both the States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu as is being done in the case of Parambikulam Aliyar Project and Siruvani Projects by both States.”

The committee will inspect the dam from December 17.

The State said the new dam was proposed in the downstream, about 1,300 ft from the existing dam. Hence, supply of water to Tamil Nadu from the old structure would continue unimpeded during the construction.

Kerala pointed out that during the pre-1979 period, Tamil Nadu had drawn 17 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water at 75 per cent dependability, but after that, when the maximum water level was reduced to 136 ft, Tamil Nadu drew 19.5 tmcft. Consequently, the extent of irrigation in that State using the dam waters had increased from 1,71,307 acres before 1979 to 2,31,412 acres in 1992-93.

Kerala said the new dam would protect and guarantee the equitable interests of Tamil Nadu in the waters for agriculture purposes. Its benefits would be shared between Kerala and Tamil Nadu as mutually agreed upon.

Kerala made it clear that none of the measures recommended or suggested by the Central Water Commission would make the existing dam safe for raising the water level. The State's consistent stand had been that that the water level should not be raised beyond 136 ft.

Kerala raised additional issues before the committee, such as whether raising the water level beyond 136 ft would prejudicially affect the environment, ecology and biodiversity?; whether the downstream Idukki dams would collapse if the dam broke?; and what would be the consequent loss of lives and property to both States?

It said that if the dam broke, the resulting flood would rush through the river course exclusively in Kerala territory and would result in unimaginable loss of lives and property, but Tamil Nadu would face no such consequences.

Another issue to be considered was what benefits would accrue to the two States from diversion of the Periyar waters under the alleged lease deed of 1886 and supplemental agreements of 1970 and whether Periyar River was an inter-State river.

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