Mullaperiyar water level crosses maximum storage; raises concern

Idukki, Kerala, Nov 15 (UNI) The water level in the 110-year-old Mullaperiyar dam rose to 137.7 ft today, crossing the maximum storage capacity, even as Kerala Irrigation Minister N K Premachandran and the Dam Safety Authority rushed to the Dam site to review the situation.

The water level in the Periyar river has started rising after the water from the dam started flowing over the spillway. The increase in inflow had caused grave concern to the people living on the banks of the Periyar and the excess flow of water into the Idukki reservoir had also raised anxiety in the authorities.

After visiting the dam site, Mr Premachandran told reporters that Tamil Nadu was aware of the dangerous situation and also was concerned about the dam's safety as it was trying to drain the reservoir with a view to keep the water level low. ''This shows that Tamil Nadu is also aware that the dam was not safe,'' he said.

Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran, who had convened a meeting with the district collector and area representatives to review the situation, said that a control room would start functioning at Mullaperiyar soon. The meeting also discussed disaster preparedness in the district against the background of weakness of the Mullaperiyar main and baby dams.

The Mullaperiyar Dam Safety Authority is also visiting the dam site to review the situation.

Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala who also visited the dam site expressed concern over the situation arising from the rise in water level in Mullaperiyar dam.

He asked the government to put in place a contingency plan to ensure the safety of the dam and the people living on the banks of Periyar.

Former Irrigation Minister Thiruvanchoor Rradhakrishnan was also present.

The district authorities had already sounded a 'high alert' in the Periyar reservoir area from yesterday after the water level in the dam crossed the maximum permissible storage level of 136 ft.

Traffic on the Cumbam-Kumily stretch of the National Highway-220 from Kollam to Theni, has been disrupted since yesterday as Tamil Nadu diverted huge quantities of water through the Irachilpalam corridor. The gushing waters flooded the path near Irachil culvert and damaged the road. The traffic was now being diverted through Chellarkovil.

UNI XR PN1643