Mullaperiyar dam controversy: 2011 sees TN, Kerala fight

Mullaperiyar dam has become the bone of contention between Kerala and Tamil Nadu since a few years. However, the face-off hotted up recently when a report by IIT Roorkee found that an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale could collapse the dam any time. If the disaster breaks out, it could cause heavy floods in villages of Kerala. Furthermore, as many as 30 lakh people could be killed by gushing water. In case of a collapse, it would affect yet another four neighboring dams leaving a dire impact on the lives and property of people.

But, on the other hand, Tamil Nadu has been maintaining a different theory behind the controversy. TN government had alleged that it's a political strategy to take away Mullaperiyar dam rights from the state, which is being benefited by them since 1886. The dam, which is located in the Idukki district of Kerala, serves water to 8 districts of Tamil Nadu. [Read: How TN and Kerala rocked with Mullaperiyar dam controversy]