Global agency to assess dam strength: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a shift from his earlier stand, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the Mullaperiyar dam’s strength should be examined by a panel of top international experts, preferably those having expertise in inspecting more than 100-year-old dams.

At a public reception organised by the LDF for the new Cabinet  here, the CM said the Supreme Court empowered panel had stated that the dam was safe. “We don’t agree with their view. But when we say the dam is unsafe then we should be able to prove it. That’s why we are for a detailed inspection by a team of international experts. It is unfortunate that the Centre, which should have taken the initiative in this regard, has not done so. We have started collecting the details of experts. The expert team’s report must be so strong that it cannot be easily discarded,” he said.

There was a clear shift from what Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said on Mullaperiyar  dam in Delhi last week. At a press conference in Delhi after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM had stated that the view of the Empowered Committee of  SC on the safety of the dam could not be overlooked.

The committee had categorically stated that the dam was safe. He said there was no need urgency for constructing a new dam. At the Delhi press conference the CM said: “The first issue is whether the dam has a defect. Experts who examined the dam had pointed out that steps required for strengthening the structure had been carried out. So far we have been only raising our apprehensions. The inspection report by experts cannot be completely rejected.  We should proceed further based on the result of the expert panel report.”

Interestingly, the change in the CM’s stand comes a day after veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan shot off a letter to CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan pointing out the deviation in the stand. He had pointed out that Pinarayi’s stand was against the well laid down stand of the LDF.

Mr Pinarayi said he had not opposed the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar. “Kerala cannot build a dam by collecting four stones.  The new dam has to be constructed after taking Tamil Nadu on board and with the Centre’s consent. We cannot construct the dam unilaterally. Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu should come together. Let me make it clear that we are not for any confrontation with the neighbouring state. We want to resolve issues in a peaceful manner. We will hold negotiations.”

He said a delegation of Mullaperiyar Samara Samiti met him earlier in the day. After discussions we found that there were no differences in our stand and their stand. This is how some bubbles get burst in our state.