The Mullaperiyar Dam has been a hot issue politically and legally between the two Southern States of India, namely, Tamilnadu and Kerala for a while now. the 155 ft tall Dam was constructed in 1895 using only lime and surki and its over 116 years old now , against an average life span of 50 years for such dams world wide. The dam is operated by the Government of Tamilnadu based on a 999-year lease agreement made during British colonial rule, between the British Government (Madras Presidency) and the Travancore Maharajah. The catchment areas and river basin of River Periyar downstream include five Districts of Central Kerala, namely Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Trissur with a total population of around 3.5 million.
In 1970 the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments signed a formal agreement to renew the 1886 treaty almost completely. The Idukki hydro electric project, located 30 km downstream was completed in 1976 by the Kerala government, is still the major resource (about 30%) for irrigation and electricity needs of Kerala. After Independence the areas downstream of the Mullaperiyar become heavily inhabited, as Kerala has a very high population density. In 1979, safety concerns were raised by Kerala Government after a minor earthquake, after which a few leaks were detected in the Mullaperiyar dam. The IIT ROORKEE had reported that the structure would not withstand an earthquake above magnitude 6 on the Richter Scale.
Now these are the technical facts but what hurts me most is the indifference of national parties and channels towards the issue at hand. If the fight was about who gets to use the Dam , the standings of them would have been satisfied. But it's not the case here. The people as well as the Government of Kerala is more than willing to give away the water supplies that the Tamilnadu Government Claims rightfully their's. Even though Periyar is not an inter state river The Keralities have no issues with giving it to them. The Kerala Govt is proposing the construction of a new dam that could be relied up on and they promises to keep up the agreement.
BUT NO ONE IS LISTENING TO US OR CONSIDERING THE RISK THAT OUR LIVES ARE ATDon't we have the right to protect the years worth savings of our family?
Don't we deserve a chance at tomorrow just like anyone else?
Now Consider the event of an Earthquake happening in the near future , The 116 year old Dam can't withstand a strong or medium level earthquake any more ( and there has been plenty of earthquakes of magnitude 2 - 4 in last couple of weeks). If that happens the Idukki Arch Dam won't be ab;e to withstand the that shock. and lives of 3.5 million people will be washed away into the Arabian sea just like that.
Let me sleep now believing that there would be a tomorrow after all.......
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