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State to face Centre only after insider talks

State’s view on Mullaperiyar issue will be conveyed only after all-party meet on Nov. 26 : PJ Joseph

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Notwithstanding the reports that Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati has called for a meeting of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Water Resources Minister P J Joseph has said that the state’s view on Mullaperiyar issue will be conveyed to Centre only after the all party meeting on November 26.

The minister said the state government had not received any invitation from the union water resource minster regarding the proposed meeting. Moreover, Kerala is not keen on holding talks with the Centre or Tamil Nadu ahead of the all party meeting.

The idea is to evolve a consensus on the issue at the meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

With the Tamil Nadu disregarding the safety concerns raised by Kerala and retaining water level at 142 ft, the government wants to come up with a strong case against the neighbouring state’s what it calls needless “adventure”.

The government wants to use the legal route to convince the court regarding the apprehensions of people living downstream, especially in the wake of reports that some of the shutters require urgent maintenance.

Also it is planning to move National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the threat posed to flora and fauna, following the increase in the storage level in reservoir to 142 ft.

Since this is the first time that the water level has been allowed to rise above 136 ft during the past three and a half decades, experts say the six feet increase in storage had brought vast tracts of forest area under water. There have been reports of less sighting of animals during the past several days.

Officials are cut up with the Tamil Nadu stand which amounted to creating unnecessary scare among the people. There is still space for 3.5 TMC water in Vaigai dam in Theni district.

If Tamil Nadu diverted 1.5 tmc water to Viaga dam, the water level at Mullaperiyar will come down to 136 ft thus allaying the fears of the people.

Expert's take on dam safety: But a section of experts say that there is no threat to the dam. Former chairman of Central Water Commission Dr K C Thomas who visited the dam in June 1979 had ordered rectification measures.

After the measures were carried out he again inspected the dam and certified it "intact" and gave a report to the government in 1981.

He had ordered RCC cupping and a concrete backing. Some 97 cable clusters fastened the cap to below 30 feet of the 1200 ft long dam. According to him even if the storage height increased to 152 ft , the 13 spill ways and the baby dam would be capable of handling maximum flood.

He had also pointed out that the possibility of dam breaching in flood waters and toppling of Idukki arch dam was not logical since all possible eventualities were factored in while strengthening the dam in 1981 and during the construction of Idukki arch dam.

( Source : dc )
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