MULLAPERIYAR- KERALA INCURRED OF LOSS OF OVER RS1000 CRORE

MULLAPERIYAR-

KERALA INCURRED OF LOSS OF OVER RS1000 CRORE

The Kerala  state has incurred a loss of over Rs 1000 crore in the Mullaperiyar protests which crossed 20 days. Apart from loss to the state exchequer, the protests caused major losses for Malayalees in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.The decision to lower the water level in Idukki in case of any disaster to the Mullaperiyar dam has affected the annual planning of KSEB. Kerala needs 18534.53-million units of electricity for an year and out of which 2367million units is from Idukki. At present electricity is generated more using this water and this will result in water shortage during summer.Instead of less costly hydroelectricity if state buys high cost electricity from outside, KSEB would incur an additional debt of Rs 1500 crore.

The cardamom plantations sector in Idukki has been affected due to the protest. In the present financial year, production of 8000 tones was expected. But as labourers from TN were not able to come, no harvest took place and 1500 tones of cardamom plantations were destroyed. These farmers incurred a loss of Rs 100 crore. Due to strikes, the nine cardamom auction centers were also shut down. So the farmers were not able to sell the harvested cardamom. The protest also affected the tourism sector in Idukki. This is the peak season for tourists but activities remained less in Munnar and Idukki.

                                                                   Prof. John Kurakar