The State Minister for Water Resources, Mr P. J. Joseph, has said the Kerala is willing to hold talks with Tamil Nadu on the Mullapperiyar dam issue if only to ensure the safety of its people.

Speaking to newspersons here after a conference of officials convened to discuss the issue on Wednesday, he said the State was committed to maintaining the supply of water to Tamil Nadu even if a proposed new dam were to come up.

SEIOUS ISSUE

The State Government was willing to give such an undertaking before the Supreme Court or to the Centre or even sign an agreement with Tamil Nadu.

But the Minister said the State Government viewed the state of affairs around the dam site seriously given the context of a repeat ground movements from quakes.

The Minister said that the State Government would like the Centre to intervene in the matter. It was willing to provide all information needed by the Centre.

A project report prepared by the State Government provided for maintaining the current reservoir level which would enable it to retain the supply of water to Tamil Nadu.

The terms of the new agreement could be discussed with Tamil Nadu in the presence of a mediator, if required. But the Minister also said it was no longer possible to have an agreement with a validity of for 999 years as was the case with colonial years.

WATER LEVEL

The Central Water Commission had said as back as in 1979 that the dam was weak and had recommended lowering of the water level.

Though certain ‘beefing-up' work has been undertaken ever since, they have not materially added to dam strength.

Earthquakes, of which a number of instances have been reported in recent times, could have a bearing on the dam structure.

The dam area featured several geological faults and more than 20 earthquakes had occurred from July 26 this year. Those of magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale had been reported in the State.

SERIAL FAILURES

The Mullapperiyar dam held 15 tmc of water. If it were to fail, the waters could pound the Vandiperiyar town and rush down to Upputhara and into the Idukki reservoir.

The Idukki reservoir holds 70 tmc of water; Idukki, Kulamavu and Cheruthoni dams could overflow as flood water reaches the reservoir.

Concrete gravity dams such as Cheruthoni could also give in, in case of copious overflows. The devastation that this would cause is unimaginable.

The Minister said national parties and the media at large should come out with a view on the matter.

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