Date:16/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/16/stories/2007081650250100.htm

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IDRB to prepare project report for dam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has asked the Irrigation Design and Research Board (IDRB) to prepare a feasibility study and project report for a new dam across the Mullaperiyar.

The direction was issued following a Cabinet decision to build a new dam about 1,300 feet downstream of the old Mullaperiyar dam.

Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran said on Tuesday that the Cabinet had decided to transfer necessary posts from the Ernakulam office of the minor irrigation investigation wing to the Kattapana minor irrigation division.

The Government was assigning a large team, including an assistant executive engineer, two assistant engineers and 12 overseers, to prepare the project report. They would work from the existing office of the assistant engineer at the Mullaperiyar dam.

He recalled that the Central Water Commission had determined the site for the dam in 1979. Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu had approved the site location plan. However, no follow-up action was taken. Instead steps were taken to strengthen the existing dam. The Minister said the Government was resuming steps to construct the proposed dam in view of the finding that the existing dam was not safe. It was the only way to ensure the safety of people living downstream and smooth supply of water to Tamil Nadu. It would cater to the interests of both the States.