The State government has urged the Centre to speed up measures for building a new dam at Mullaperiyar in Idukki district.
Minister for Water Resources Roshy Augustine conveyed the State’s request to the Centre at a meeting with Central Water Commission Chairman Kushvinder Vohra.
Kerala is committed to supplying water to Tamil Nadu under the Mullaperiyar agreement. The State is ready to continue meeting the terms even with a new dam in place, Mr. Augustine told Mr. Vohra.
At the meeting, Mr. Augustine reiterated the State’s concerns regarding the age of the Mullaperiyar dam. The old dam should be decommissioned and replaced with a new one, allaying the concerns of the people living in the downstream regions, he said.
He also welcomed the CWC decision to ask Tamil Nadu to finalise the terms of reference for assessing the safety of the old dam. A study should be carried out at the earliest by consulting experts. Steps should also be taken for the construction of the new dam, Mr. Augustine said.
On the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project, Mr. Augustine sought measures for the review of the agreement. The agreement, signed in 1958, should have undergone reviews twice by now, but that has not happened, he noted.
He also wanted the CWC to ensure that rule curve was being observed at the Parambikulam dam managed by Tamil Nadu.
