Thiruvananthapuram: The water level in the controversial Mullaperiyar dam on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border yesterday inched up to 135.8 feet (41.40 metres), close to the permissible limit of 136 feet (41.45 metres), leading to anxiety levels rising on the Kerala side of the 116-year-old dam.
Fears have reached a crescendo in Kerala over a possible breach of the dam that many fear could lead to a loss of three million lives in Kerala across multiple districts, including Idukki and Kottayam.
Incessant rains in the catchment areas of the dam in Idukki district, and four tremors in the region measuring between 3.14 and 5.19 on the Richter scale heightened the fears of locals.
Tremors
Tremors in recent days were felt in different places in Idukki and Kottayam districts, including Erattupetta, Poonjar, Teekoy, Kondoor and Wagamon. In the past six months, it is estimated that there were roughly 20 tremors in the region.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said it was impossible to delay a decision on the construction of a new dam in place of the existing one, particularly in the backdrop of continued tremors in the area posing a fresh threat to the stability of the dam. A team of ministers from Kerala are scheduled to travel to Delhi today to press federal authorities to give urgent attention to the matter.
Tamil Nadu, which is the recipient of water from the dam under a 999-year water lease agreement made in the pre-independence era, is strongly opposed to the idea of a new dam, and the matter is being considered by the courts.
