‘Dam-break analysis’ begins at Mullaperiyar

The long-awaited ‘dam-break analysis’ has begun at the Mullaperiyar dam site.

Prof S. K. Mishra, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, is overseeing this exercise.

Earlier, the Kerala Government had approached IIT-Roorkee with a request to conduct the analysis of the century-old dam.

The study looks at the possibilities of a break of the dam structure and consequences, thereof, including disaster management and mitigation.

Agency reports said that Prof Mishra arrived at the dam site this morning and visited the baby dam and the spill way.

He is scheduled to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the terrain from the dam site to downstream Idukki, sources said.

The objective of dam-break modelling or flood routing is to simulate the movement of a dam-break flood wave along a valley or indeed any area ‘downstream' that would flood as a result of dam failure.

Kerala has some of the oldest dams of the world, according to experts. The level of risk associated with a dam is a function of probability as well as consequences of dam failure.

Mullaperiyar shot into limelight after a series of light tremors and ground movements felt in the neighbourhood over a short span of time this year raised fears about its continued safety.

The dam is considered a ‘high hazard dam’ as per the hazard potential classification considering the human and economic loss criteria fixed by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

In this context, experts feel it is necessary to get its structural stability verified by proper estimation of the seismic parameters by carrying out detailed dynamic analysis.

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