Kottayam: While the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam is staying at 141.7 feet on Wednesday evening, the people of the district are still in the grip of panic.
Though Tamil Nadu had earlier agreed to bring down the water level to 141 feet, it has closed one of the three shutters which were opened on Tuesday, which further minimised the prospects to lower the water level to 141 feet.
Idukki district administration has only 51 trained men at its disposal to deal with emergencies while thousands of people are residing in the vicinity of Mullaperiyar dam and the downstream on both sides of Periyar.
Of them, 17 are from a private agency with boats, ambulances and other facilities, and 34 belong to the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF). An 80-member rescue force stationed at Palakkad needs a couple of hours to reach Kumily even by air. Another 17-member team of Scoobie divers are also on standby. The current water level in the dam is 141.4 feet. Locals say heavy rains at night will raise it further, forcing Tamil Nadu to release more water.
“The situation can become dangerous at any time. The atmosphere is cloudy, and in the case of heavy rainfall, the water level may rise to (the allowed level of) 142 feet,” said Sebastian, a Vallakadavu native.
“It can deteriorate the situation, and if the emergency is at night, the rescue plans will not properly work.”
The officials have no idea how to handle the situation in the event of a sudden increase in the water level and subsequent release of water and flooding. They don’t have a comprehensive, alternative plan or manpower to respond to a major emergency.
“We are optimistic that no emergency will happen,” deputy tahsildar P.S. Varghese, who is monitoring the developments, told DC.
New dam only solution: CM
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday called for construction of new safety dam at Mullaperiyar to find a lasting solution to the issue.
At the Cabinet briefing, he said that the state’s proposal was to build a new dam without depriving water for Tamil Nadu even for a single day. Mullaperiyar agreement is for 999 years. Can they say the existing dam will remain intact for the entire period? Is this possible? Has this happened anywhere in the world? he asked
The chief minister said that the state is of the view that whether today or tomorrow, a new safety dam has to come up in Mullaperiyar. He will take up the matter with Union Water Resources minister Uma Bharathi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meetings scheduled over the next one week.
When pointed out that Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) had refused environment impact assessment in that area, the chief minister said once the Centre had given permission for the same. Chandy said the government had serious apprehensions about the safety of dam. “Our policy is water for Tamil Nadu and Safety for Kerala. It should not be difficult for Tamil Nadu to cooperate with us. We have never deprived water to five districts of Tamil Nadu depend on Mullaperiyar for drinking water and irrigation," he added.
He said wherever there is argument over water, it is mainly related to quantity and period. “We have never created any obstacles in providing them water but the safety of our people is of prime concern," he said.
When pointed out that Tamil Nadu was raising the water level on the strength of Supreme Court verdict allowing 142 feet, the chief minister said;"We cannot remain silent spectators serious apprehensions are being raised about safety and security of people. Imagine what would have been the situation had Kerala experienced the kind of rains that occurred in Tamil Nadu recently. We don’t want to create. Our effort are directed finding a amicable solution through negotiations and legal measures,” the chief minister said.
