Idukki adminstration awaits TN alert to take precautions on opening shutters
Mullaiperiyar dam, the lifeline of five southern districts, brimming with water much to the joy of its beneficiaries. - dc
Thiruvananthapuram: Amid claims and counter claims by Tamil Nadu and Kerala about the safety of Mullaiperiyar dam in the wake of the water level rising to 141.8 feet, Union water resource minister Uma Bharati called a high- level meeting to discuss the issue in Delhi on Saturday The minister has reportedly asked the two states to present their views at the meeting. She opined that the concerns of the people should be taken into account while handling the Mullaiperiyar issue.
Meanwhile, the supervisory committee has decided to visit the dam site for security checks on Monday following the rising water level. Tamil Nadu stopped taking water from the dam on Thursday resulting in the increase in water level which was slowly inching towards the Supreme Court-permitted level of 142 feet.Sources at the dam site said the water level was expected to reach 142 feet by Friday afternoon. It is understood that Tamil Nadu was planning to maintain the level at least for 24 hours before releasing the water.
The Idukki district administration is awaiting an alert from Tamil Nadu for taking precautionary measures in the event of opening of shutters. As per norms, the alert has to be sounded at least six hours ahead of releasing the water. “I have not received any communication from Tamil Nadu till now,’’ Idukki Collector Ajith Patil told DC.Additional Chief Secretary (water resources) V.J. Kurian, who visited the dam site on Thursday along with Idukki MP Joyce George and Irrigation Department officials, slammed Tamil Nadu for refusing to understand the safety concerns of the people.
“If water level crosses 142 feet, it will be clear violation of the Supreme Court verdict. I think Tamil Nadu is playing with fire,’’ he told reporters after the visit.Mr Joyce George said by insisting on raising the water level to 142 feet, Tamil Nadu was posing a serious threat to the people of the state. Theni district collector K.S. Palanyswami also visited the dam on Thursday and evaluated the situation.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government would approach the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal on the Mullaperiyar issue. He expressed concern over the safety of people living downstream and animals in the Periyar forest reserve.He said the government was awaiting the report of PCCF and chief wildlife warden from ground zero and based on their observations, the government would initiate further steps.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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