All-party meet on Mullaperiyar dam
On Nov 26 to discuss panic among people due to rise in water level
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-11-20 08:15 GMT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has convened an all party meeting on November 26 to discuss Mullaperiyar issue in the backdrop of water level rising to 142 feet which has caused panic among people living downstream.
The decision was taken in Cabinet on Wednesday which also directed Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wild Life Warden to visit the affected area to assess the threat to Periyar Tiger Reserve and Thekkady forest area in the wake rising water levels in the dam. They have been asked to submit a detailed report within two days.
Cabinet observed that Tamil Nadu was resorting to trickery to keep the water level at 142 feet. “Tamil Nadu can increase the outflow from the dam if it wants. But it is deliberately not doing so to allow water level to remain at 142 feet,” said Information Minister K C Joseph at the Cabinet briefing.
Earlier at the MPs conference here Chief Minister Oommen Chandy expressed concern over the increasing water level. “For us the safety of people is of utmost importance and bigger than anything else. You all should come forward to apprise the Centre of the anxiety of the people living downstream,” he urged the MPs from the state.
He said the state would approach Supreme Court to demand the reduction in water level from the present 142 ft. “We will also seek apex court’s intervention to prevent Tamil Nadu from increasing water level till the completion of maintenance works of shutters,” he added.
Mr Chandy said while 1058 cubic feet of water was flowing into the dam, Tamil Nadu was taking only 150 cubic feet even though it can easily take 2100 cubic feet water.