TN stand on Mullaperiyar unfortunate: Official

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 10: A top official incharge of inter-state river water in Kerala today termed as 'unfortunate,' the reported statement of Tamil Nadu Chief Engineer regarding the steps taken by his state to increase the storage level of the Mullaperiyar dam to 142 ft.

In a statement here, Kerala Chief Engineer (inter-state river water) K Divakaran said the 111-year-old dam, made of surki and lime mixture, posed a serious threat to the safety of the inhabitants of Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts in the downstream.

He pointed out that in 1980 a joint team of Kerala and Tamil Nadu officials had suggested for the decommissioning of the dam and construction of a new one.

Though the Kerala Government had granted permission to construct the new dam, Tamil Nadu was not cooperating with the efforts, he said.

UNI