MULLAPERIYAR- KERALA SASTRA SAHITHYA PARISHAD(KSSP) FOR EXPERT PANEL

MULLAPERIYAR-

KERALA SASTRA SAHITHYA PARISHAD(KSSP) FOR EXPERT PANEL

The Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) has said “building a new dam is not the only answer to the Mullaperiyar problem.”After analysing the issues involved in the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam, the KSSP has suggested constitution of an agency consisting of internationally known experts on dams to carry out an impartial study of the various options available for settling the dispute. Giving the KSSP's perspective on the Mullaperiyar controversy, its president K.T. Radhakrishnan, and A. Achyuthan, a former president and noted environmentalist said here on Friday that the settlement formula should be one that would ensure both the safety of life and property of people of Kerala and supply of sufficient quantity of water to Tamil Nadu.

The KSSP discussed in details the Mullaperiyar issue and the various options available for solving the dispute at a meeting attended by scientists and other experts in Kochi on December 22. The discussion threw up three suggestions: 1. Lower the water level in the dam to a particular level, release the water that accumulates above it from time to time through tunnels to Tamil Nadu where it could be stored for future use. It would mean maintaining the existing dam as a backup dam and entrusting responsibility of storing water to Tamil Nadu. 2. Collect water from the Mullaperiyar reservoir in the Idukki dam and divert it to Tamil Nadu through tunnels to be constructed for that purpose and, de-commission Mullaperiyar dam in a phased manner. 3. Construct another dam and phase out the existing one.The KSSP spokesmen said an agency made up of world renowned experts in design and construction of dams, water management, seismologists, geologists, and environmental engineers should be constituted. Its job would be to conduct an impartial evaluation of the various options available for settling the row. It could function under the existing empowered committee .

                                                                   Prof. John Kurakar