Date:10/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071060540900.htm

New Delhi

State rejects IIT-Delhi report on dam

Staff Reporter

Study says Mullaperiyar dam is hydrologically unsafe

Durai Murugan

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu government has rejected the conclusion of a recent study made by a two-member

IIT-Delhi team that the Mullaperiyar dam bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu is “hydrologically unsafe” for an estimated probable maximum flood (PMF) of 2.91 lakh cubic feet per second (cusecs) even when the water level is maintained at 136 feet and all 13 shutters are opened.

“How can we accept the report that is prepared by the retired IIT professors (Dr. A.K. Gosain and Dr. Subhash Chander) on behalf of the Kerala government? Since they were appointed by the Kerala government, naturally their report will be biased,” said Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister Durai Murugan on Wednesday.

The Minister, who was here to attend a conference of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), was talking to reporters.

Expert committee

He hoped that the Supreme Court, where a case was pending, would reject the report of the IIT experts. He pointed out that an expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court had studied the structure and safety aspects of the dam and had recommended that the water level be increased up to 142 feet after carrying out minor repairs.

The report was accepted by the Central Water Commission.