Mullaperiyar dam is safe: Tamil Nadu CM snubs Kerala's request to reduce water

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday turned down Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's request to reduce the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 feet. 

On Wednesday, Pinarayi requested Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami to direct authorities to release water from Mullaperiyar dam in order to bring the water level down to 139 ft.

The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam touched 142 ft on Wednesday, the maximum the structure can bear according to authorities. 

Tamil Nadu government on Thursday stated that the century-old reservoir was 'safe' enough to store water up to 142 feet.

In his letter, a copy of which was released to media, Palaniswami said the state Water Resources Department was maintaining the releases from the dam, owned and operated by Tamil Nadu, and there was no threat to its safety.

"I would like to state that Mullaperiyar dam is safe in all respects - hydrologically, seismically and structurally as per the Supreme Court order dated 7.5.2014. During the past, the dam was inspected by many experts on several occasions and they had also found that the dam is safe in all aspects," Palaniswami said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today described the flood situation in Kerala as "grave" and directed the Disaster Management sub-committee of Mullaperiyar Dam to consider reducing water level up to 139 feet from the present 142 feet.

"An effort has to be made to bring down the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 ft so that the people living downstream should not live in constant fear," a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Indu Malhotra said.

Water released from Mullaperiyar reaches Idukki reservoir, which is presently full.

CM Vijayan's office fears the widespread devastation that would follow if water from the dam is released suddenly and therefore, "water levels must be lowered immediately," a statement from Vijayan's office noted.

 As many as 94 people have been killed in the deluge so far, a Red Alert has been sounded in all 14 districts. Operations at the Kochi airport have been suspended till August 18 and flights were being diverted to various airports.

Kerala says the total loss due to floods is estimated to be Rs. 8,000 crore.