CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday rubbished the Kerala government’s promise that it would continue to provide the same quantum of water released through the Mullaiperiyar dam to Tamil Nadu, even after a new dam is constructed. “There is not even an iota of truth in this assurance. It is just an act of deception by the Kerala government,” she said in her concluding remarks at the special session of the State Assembly on the dam issue.Kerala, in its Detailed Project Report on the new dam submitted to the empowered panel appointed on the directions of the Supreme Court, had revealed that the full capacity of the new dam would be just 136 feet and that the sluice gate would be installed to let out 1.1 tmc ft of water for environmental purposes. “The argument that the dam is unsafe is just an excuse to stop water meant for TN,” she said.On the claim that the entire area around the dam would be submerged if the structure collapses following an earthquake, the CM said the human settlements in the area were located much above the reach of the flood waters of the dam. Further, the Idukki reservoir was designed to moderate up to 4,00,000 cubic feet of water per second. In this regard, the CM referred to observation of the SC. In its order dated February 27, 2006, the SC said, “It is the case of Kerala that despite the copious rains, the Idukki reservoir is not filled to capacity. While the capacity of the reservoir is 70.5 tmc, it was filled only to the extent of 57.365 tmc. This also shows that assuming the worst happens, over 11 tmc water would be taken by Iudkki dam. Further, when the water reaches Idukki dam, which is about 50 km away, it will have only a velocity of three ft per second. It is also reported that when the water level at Mullaiperiyar dam is 136 feet, the water spread area is 4,678 acres and that if the water is stood to 155 feet, the water spread area will be 8,591 acres,” she observed.Since water has not been stored above 136 feet for a long time, the water spread area has been encroached upon to built resorts and buildings, she said. If the water level is increased, these resorts will be submerged.
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