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RR
27th June 2008, 10:24 AM
Mullai Periyar - II

- Padmanabha


(Part I of this article is here (http://hubmagazine.mayyam.com/jun08/?t=11545).)

The report that Mullai Periyar dam is located on the seismic zone has created tension. An earthquake of range 6.5 in the Richter scale is predicted here. Last week a team of experts from IIT Rurkhi submitted this report. The team has identified eight delicate zones in the dam site. The report further says that even the present level of water maintained in the dam itself is a threat to the structure.

Past seismic history Earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 at Nedumkandam (1988), 4.3 at Wadakkanchery (1994) and the latest earthquake of magnitudes 5 to 6.5 had occurred in Periyar basin. The question of whether the dam will be able to withstand another tremor is the main concern of the people.

Tamil Nadu’s demand

The demand of the Tamil Nadu government to raise the height of the dam has created much furor in Kerala. If the height of dam is increased and if an accident occurs to the dam the flash floods will destroy Kumili town and thousands of people will perish in four districts downstream of the dam in Kerala. Besides 10,000 acres of forest land would be submerged and 10,000 tribal families will be deprived of their food and shelter. The failure of Mulla periyar dam could be catastrophic for Idukki dam also. It was built to hold 2000 million cubic meters of water. It will be forced to hold flash floods of 443 million cubic meters! In that case, all towns and villages of Periyar basin in Kerala will be wiped out if the dams of Idukki fails.

The state government should consider the report of the expert committee seriously. This dam was not constructed after considering the possibilities of earthquakes. If the problem of Tamil Nadu is focused on water, the same of Kerala is the life and death of people in four districts. Kerala never denied water to Tamil Nadu. However Tamil Nadu seems to have not bothered about the lives of millions of people. “It is not our headache , what we need is water” has been its attitude.

Supreme court will reconsider this issue in July. Kerala should lay down its concerns and problems in black and white and should see that Kerala’s interests are protected.
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padmanabha
2nd July 2008, 08:11 AM
A team of hydrologists from IIT Delhi has come out with a report that Mullai Periyar dam is hydrologically unsafe. Evwen now we are prepared to hold talk with the Tamil nadu govt we have no objection to the sharing of water the only concern is the safety of the people living in the vicinity of the dam said the minister for water resources N K Premachandran.
The PMF (PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD) may be expected from the most severe combination of the critical meterelogical and hydrological conditions that are possible in the region. the PMF is estomated at 8,428 cubic metre/second(cumec). The report sated that with full reservoir level (FRL) OF 136 FT, AND LOWER pmf of 6003 cumec and all the spill ways in operative condition the MWL would shoot up to 156.02 ft which would be above the permitted MWL of 155 ft. the situation is more grave -it is not favourable for the dam to survive -said the minister