Kerala to submit report on Mullaperiyar dam to SC
7 Jul 2008, 2024 Hrs

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 7 (ANI): Kerala Government will soon present before the Supreme Court, a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi stating the113-year-old Mullaperiyar dam being hydrologically unsafe and in dangerous condition.

The study would be submitted by the Kerala Government, as the base to support its case in the court for construction of a new dam that is being opposed by Tamil Nadu Government.

Kerala Irrigation and Water Resources Minister N. K. Premachandran, said here today that the State would submit the report to the apex court as evidence to support its case for construction of a new dam at about 1,300 metres below the existing dam.

Premachandran said the key finding of the study was that the water level would go up to 160.22 feet in the event of a 'maximum probable flood' even if the storage level were kept at 136 feet.

The study suggests the Mullaperiyar dam as being hydrologically unsafe for passing the estimated probable maximum probable floodwaters even when all the existing 13 spillways are opened.

However, the Tamil Nadu Government has said the Central Water Commission, which inspected the dam, had told the apex court the dam was strong.

Tamil Nadu is opposed to the construction of a new dam and wants the storage level to be raised from 136 ft to 142 feet.

Kerala is opposed to raise the level from the present 136 feet, sighting the dam's safety as the reason. (ANI)