Chennai/Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged his Tamilnadu counterpart M K Stalin, urging him to ensure that shutters of the Mullaiperiyar dam are opened ‘only after sufficient warnings’ and ‘during daytime’.
Vijayan said in the letter to Stalin that direction needs to be given to the officials to open the shutters during the daytime, after giving adequate warnings.
The government of Kerala is of the considered opinion that Tamilnadu should get adequate water while the safety of people in Kerala is ensured, Vijayan said. He stressed the need for the neighbouring States to discuss and devise strategies to tackle the consequences of climate change impacting the lives and livelihood of the people.
Kerala Chief Secretary V P Joy had alerted his Tamilnadu counterpart on November 30 about the high water levels in downstream areas like Vandiperiyar and peopleās anxiety.
‘Shutter release at the rate of around 5,700 cusecs has been the cause of flooding due to high water levels and consequent inundation of houses… As per the information received, shutters V1 to V8 of Mullaperiyar dam were opened at 3am on December 2, 2021. Sufficient warning was not given before discharging 6,413 cusecs, which was subsequently increased to 8,017 cusecs at 4am by opening all the 10 shutters,’ he said.
The dam situated in the Idukki district of Kerala is managed by Tamilnadu. The water level of the dam is now being maintained at its maximum, 142 feet. Kerala is concerned over the safety of the 126-years-old dam and is hence, pressing for a new one.