CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu would soon hold talks with Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram to resolve various inter-state water disputes including strengthening of Mullaperiyar dam and implementation of Pamba-Achankoil-Vaippar link, which would help divert 22tmcft of water to Sankarankoil, Kovilpatti, Sivagiri, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, Sathur and Tenkasi taluks in Tamil Nadu.
“A meeting with Kerala officials at additional chief secretary level to resolve the issues is likely to be held soon at Thiruvananthapuram,” water resources minister S Duraimurugan said in a policy note tabled in the assembly. He said the Kerala government had not been granting permission despite several requests to carry material and machinery through the forest road to take up grouting work at Mullaperiyar dam and treating the upstream face of the main dam as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
Tamil Nadu had sanctioned Rs9.8 crore for the work. The state has also sanctioned installation of seismic instruments at the dam at Rs99.9 lakh. The Tamil Nadu government also requires permission from Kerala to cut 23 trees to complete the strengthening work of Baby dam and repair the ghat road. Due to the “obstructionist attitude” of Kerala government, it was getting delayed, the minister said.
On Pamba-Achankoil-Vaippar link, Duraimurugan said the project could help generate 500MW power for Kerala. Despite Tamil Nadu giving its concurrence for preparing a detailed project report, Kerala was not in favour of the project, he said.
The Nirar-Nallar multipurpose straight cut scheme would replace the existing circuitous route from Upper Nirar to Sholayar reservoir to Parambikulam reservoir and to Thirumurthy reservoir through contour canal, he said. These dams are in Valparai region.
Duraimurugan said the state also wanted Kerala to resume supply of water from Neyyar dam to the ayacut areas in Vilavancode taluk in Kanyakumari district. The supply was stopped in March 2004. Due to reorganisation of states in 1956, a portion of the ayacut to be served by the Neyyar irrigation project – 9,200 acres - got transferred to Tami Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu government also wants Kerala to give nod to the modified proposal of Pandiyar-Punnampuzha project, proposed by the DMK government in 2006. The project was expected to generate 60MW hydropower and divert 7tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) water through a 27km long tunnel to Moyar in Bhavani sub-basin to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of some drought-prone areas. After conducting preliminary study, a feasibility report had been prepared to facilitate discussions with Kerala, he said.
