The apex court had ordered that the level could go up to 142 ft
Mullaperiyar dam. (Photo:DC/File)
Thiruvananthapuram: Water resources minister P. J. Joseph said that the state would move the Supreme Court to limit the water level in Mullaperiyar dam to 136 feet. The minister was speaking to reporters in Kattappana on Monday night.
Water resources secretary V.J. Kurien, a member of the high-power monitoring committee, had met the advocate general K P Dandapani to discuss the steps needed to be taken on Tuesday.
Mr Kurien said that, though the apex court had ordered that the level could go up to 142 ft, the situation had altered drastically.
“One of the shutters is not functional and the water level is rising dangerously high,” Mr Kurien said.
“What’s more, Tamil Nadu had reduced the off-take of water from the dam even as the Vaigai dam where it was stored was only 45 per cent of its total capacity.
This reeks of a dangerous brinksmanship, a sort of adamancy that mocks at the fears of the people of the state,” he added.
The Supreme Court on May 7 has described the Mullaperiyar dam as “seismically, hydrologically, and structurally safe.”
The water resources secretary said he had told the minister about the precarious situation. “The seepage level last day was 112 litres a minute. The situation is far from what can be called safe,” Mr Kurien said.
He even termed L A V Nathan, the chairman of the high-power monitoring committee, as “partial”.
Mr Nathan has said that Tamil Nadu had assured that spillway shutters would be opened if there was a sudden surge in water level above two feet a day.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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