Thiruvananthapuram: The Mullaperiyar dam on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu overflowed yesterday, raising major security concerns over the lives of thousands of people in its vicinity in Kerala.
The dam, which has been the bone of contention between the two states over the issue of sharing waters, has a storage capacity of 136 feet of water, though the Tamil Nadu government has been demanding that the capacity be raised to 142 feet.
Even as the arguments and counter-arguments progressed, the dam began overflowing in the early hours of yesterday.
At the time of filing this report, the water level was recorded at 136.8 feet, and water was flowing over the spillway of the dam. Following heavy rain in the catchment area of the dam, it was estimated that roughly 481 cubit feet of water was flowing into the dam every second yesterday morning.
Excess water
Kerala water resources minister N.K. Premachandran said the only encouraging aspect of the development was that "excess water is flowing into Idukki dam", that is collecting the excess water from Mullaperiyar.
However, the situation presents serious concern for the Kerala Government about the safety of the dam.
The Idukki district collector has directed those living along the banks of the Periyar river to be on the alert, even as top irrigation and water resources department officials of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu were taking stock of the situation.
Taking note of the alarming situation in Mullaperiyar, the Dam Safety Authority will be visiting the dam today. They will also be verifying the safety of the small dam nearby.
