Dam burst won’t cause havoc, TN tells panel

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In a fresh application to the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered
Committee on Mullaperiyar dam, Tamil Nadu Government on Friday argued that recurrent tremors posed a threat to the Idukki arch dam, located in a seismic zone, than Mullaperiyar dam.

Questioning Kerala’s claim of the dam being under threat of quakes and floods, TN stated that the extent of havoc from a dam breach was being blown out of proportion by Kerala.

TN termed as “false” Kerala’s claim of the dam witnessing 22 tremors in the last four months.

According to Indian Standard Codes, only four tremors were reported in the area in the current year. All tremors below an intensity of 3.5 on the Richter were ‘slight’. Those tremors occurred far away from the dam and did not have any impact on it, TN argued.

TN urged the committee to dismiss Kerala’s application in this regard, urging that pending repairs be carried out urgently and the storage be raised to 142 ft and further as directed by the Supreme Court in 2006

Go by objective factors: kalam

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday said that the vexed Mullaperiyar dam issue should be settled objectively looking into aspects like the benefits, cost and safety.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Sainik School Kazhakootam, Dr Kalam said; “It should be decided objectively.

The chief minister of Kerala and Tamil Nadu must meet,’’ The two chief ministers should take an objective view of the whole issue and decide the matter in peaceful manner, he added.