KSEB Says The Reservoir Can Hold Water Up To Full Level

Terming the state disaster management authority’s suggestion to lift the shutters of Idukki dam well before the water level in it touches the maximum (2,403ft) as a debatable contention of academic nature, the state government has decided against draining water from the dam which --according to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) --can hold water up to the full reservoir level of 2,408ft in case of additional surge of water into the dam.

Kerala on Tuesday submitted before the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that the report of the Empowered Committee (EC) on the safety of Mullaperiyar dam has to be relooked in the light of t

Setting at rest the controversy over the safety of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam, the Empowered Committee, headed by the former Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand, has said it is “structurally and hydrologically safe, and Tamil Nadu can raise the water level from 136 to 142 feet after carrying out certain repairs.”

In its report submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the committee is understood to have said: “The dam is seismically safe.” Last year's earth tremors in that region “did not have any impact on the Mullaperiyar dam and the Idukki reservoir and there was no danger to the safety of the two dams.”

Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee on the controversial Mullaperiyar Dam, over which Tamil Nadu and Kerala are at loggerheads, today finalised its much-awaited report on various aspects of the structure and will submit it to the court on Wednesday.

The five-member committee headed by former Chief Justice of India A S Anand met here today and finalised the report that is understood to have focused on all aspects of the 119-year-old dam including its safety.

KOCHI: The state government on Thursday submitted before the Kerala High Court that there had been no lapses or shortcomings in implementing an action plan to meet any eventualities arising out of a possible collapse of the Mullaperiyar dam.

The statement was filed in response to a petition filed by Save Kerala Movement seeking court intervention in the Mullaperiyar issue. In its statement the state government said that the shortcomings pointed out by the petitioner were not correct.

Tamil Nadu on Friday told the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee that the Mullaperiyar dam had been strengthened and was being well maintained.

Inspection in the wake of recent tremors in the region

Knowing where the safe zones beyond the reach of floodwaters are and the routes to reach them will make the difference between life and death in case of a breach of the Mullaperiyar dam.

Keeping battery-operated radios and telephone numbers of emergency control rooms ready will help receive timely alerts and guidance in the event of disasters such as floods and earthquakes, the Institute of Land and Disaster Management says.

C.D. Thatte and D.K. Mehta are likely to submit report on December 26

Two technical members of the Empowered Committee — C.D. Thatte, former Secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources, and D.K. Mehta, retired Chief Engineer, Central Water Commission — will inspect the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams from December 22 to 24.