CHENNAI: The statement of former Chairman of the Central Water Commission, Dr KC Thomas, asserting that there need not be any apprehension about the safety of the Mullaiperiyar dam has come as a shot in arm for the Tamil Nadu government as well as its people at a time when the Kerala government is vehemently demanding the decommissioning of the dam.When Kerala raised the safety issue way back in 1979, Thomas inspected the dam and concluded that there was no danger to the dam and suggested some strengthening measures which were carried out by Tamil Nadu in concurrence with Kerala government. Thomas, in his statement on November 27, has categorically stated that if the storage height is increased to 152 ft, the 13 spillways would be capable of handling maximum floods and the possibility of the dam breaching and toppling Idukki dam was not logical since all possible eventualities were factored in while strengthening the dam in 1981. Thomas also pointed out that the Jaisamand dam constructed in Rajasthan in 1730 is structurally stable even now and there should be no apprehension about the Mullaiperiyar dam. The memorandum submitted by the delegation of AIADMK MPs to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday gave details about the statements made by Thomas on various occasions.
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