Centre intervenes in Mullperiyar dam issue, high-level meeting tomorrow

Centre wants to collect public response from Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the issue, which has raised serious concern in the four central districts of Kerala

The central government will convene a high-level meeting of the representatives of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to find out a solution to the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

Central water resources minister, Uma Bharati, today said the meeting was scheduled on Saturday and the Central Water Commission (CWC) had been asked to submit a report on the latest alarming water level of the dam. Both the water resources  ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu had been asked to submit their views on the situation.

The government also want to collect public response from both the states over the issue, which has raised serious concern in the four central districts of Kerala. "We hope to have some solution in Saturday's meeting," she said.

Meanwhile, the water level today rose to 141.8 ft and with more still flowing into the dam. Even though there had been no rainfall in the catchment area of the dam for the last couple of days, roughly 700 cubic ft of water is flowing into the dam per second. As the water level  is increasing every hour, already 638 hactares of forest land is fully submerged posing a threat to the Thekkady tiger reserve.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy today said he had asked the chief wildlife warden to submit a report over the present status of the wild animals in the light of the high water level. People in the Vallakkadavu area, near the dam, too are on an agitation path. Chandy said the state government would approach the Supreme court and the Green Tribunal to apprise them of the situation.

Alleging that Tamil Nadu wants to establish that the 118-year-old dam was still safe by collecting 142 ft of water at least for one day, social activist Sabu K Thomas, said it had abruptly stopped the intake of water from the dam on Thursday.

It is reported that the shutters of the dam would be opened once the water level touches 142 ft. Tamil Nadu officials had earlier informed this to the Idukki district administration. As the water level at the Mullaperiyar dam crosses 141.8 ft, the district administration has said people living near the dam site would be evacuated once they get the alert message from Tamil Nadu.

District collector, Ajit Patil, said they would take necessary steps to ensure the safety of people.