Plea to peg dam level at 136 feet rejected
the level of the seepage water from the dam has increased to 112.9 litres per minute
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-11-04 05:20 GMT
Kottayam: The Supreme Court-appointed apex committee on Mullaperiyar dam on Monday rejected Kerala’s demand to lower the water level in the dam to 136 feet by releasing the water.
Kerala’s demand is in view of heavy rain causing safety concern to the people in the area. At present, the dam has a water level of 137.6 feet.
According to sources, the apex committee headed by Mr L.A.V. Nathan, chief engineer from the Central Water Commission, turned down the state’s demand after a review meeting held at Kumaly on Monday evening.
Kerala’s representative V.J. Kurian demanded lowering of the water level to 136 feet since the shutters of the dam were damaged. The apex committee said that the shutters would be opened only if the water level reached 140 feet or it increased by two feet per day.
As per the inspection conducted at the dam, the level of the seepage water from the dam has increased to 112.9 litres per minute.
The committee members reached the dam by 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The inspection, which lasted till 2 p.m., was conducted by Mr Nathan, Mr V.J. Kurian and Mr M. Saikumar, the representative of Tamil Nadu.