Mullaperiyar updates: IIT Roorkie report warns about the catastrophe!

First section of the technical report, ‘dam-break-analysis’, prepared by IIT Roorkie on Mullaperiyar Dam has been published. It warns that if the Mullaperiyar dam breaks due to earth quakes or automatically due to ageing, the entire dam will collapse within a very short time of 12 minutes creating chaos all around. The flood water level will attain around 40 meters height attaining greater speeds as it will be engulfing people and properties. This will be another tsunami-like situation.

In such a scenario, the Vallakkadvu, the human settlement closest to the dam, would be flooded within 26 minutes, Vandiperiyar within 31 minutes and Idukki dam, situated about 35km from Mullaperiyar, within 128 minutes, said P. J. Joseph, Kerala Water Resources Minister and Kerala Congress (M) leader.

Joseph said the IIT report will be handed over to the Centre for Earth Sciences and Kerala Congress will renew its agitations against Tamil Nadu’s negative attitude towards reconstruction of the 116-year-old dam.


Comments: some of my north Indian friends exclaimed: “The dam is owned by Kerala, the water is owned by Kerala and the entire property is situated in Kerala…then why doesn’t the Kerala govt decommission the age-old and weak dam? The matter should not have gone to court. Even if there is only a one percent chance that the dam may collapse and wreak havoc to the lives and properties of the people, then any other state – even Tamil Nadu – would have demolished their dam years before!”

Suppose the dam breaks today due to an earth quake or by its own…will anybody be able to give back the thousands of lives that may be lost? And who will be answerable for the chaos, the devastation and crores of property damage to be faced by the people of Kerala?
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Mullaperiyar samara samidhi  has announced to observe hartal in Idukki district on Wednesday, 18 Jan. Kerala Congress (Mani) group has extended its full support for the hartal along with the CPI(M) led LDF front. The fresh agitations on the mullaperiyar issue have become necessary as the PM has not effectively involved in forcing Tamil Nadu to talk with Kerala govt to try to solve the issue amicably. Also, the union minister Ashwani Kumar unnecessarily talked in favor of Tamil Nadu on Sunday causing the immediate provocation.  All schools to remain closed and, exams and tests postponed in the state for tomorrow.

Union minister Ashwani Kumar on Sunday, 15 Jan, said the Mullaperiyar dam is safe. The central minister shouldn't have said this as the case is pending with the Supreme Court. The mullaperiyar dam is over hundred years old and it was made at a time when there was no concrete making technology available. And a great portion of the material, Soorkey, used to cement the stones together have washed away with the elapse of many decades. The recent bore hole analysis has clearly proved this factor. Moreover, there occur frequent tremors or mild quakes near the mullaperiyar dam site. Considering all these points, one can easily understand the fear and tension faced by the people who live close to the dam. These hapless people say they see nightmares and death is staring at them every minute!They demand the state govt should protect their lives and decommission the mullapriyar dam at the earliest...what do you say? 

Another Quake of 2.6 Magnitude jolts Mullaperiyar site
Save people, reconstruct Mullaperiyar dam...

Since July this year 29 tremors of varying intensities have occurred in Idukki and adjoining places causing further concern about the safety of Mullaperiyar dam.Meanwhile, revenue minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said an agreement will be signed within a week with the Central department of Science & Technology in order to closely monitor the Mullaperiyar dam and the water level in it. Defence miister Antony said the central government will continue its efforts to discuss the Mullaperiyar dam issue with Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments.

Save people, reconstruct Mullaperiyar dam...

Labels: Mullaperiyar, news on Mullaperiyar, quake in Idukki, Mullaperiyar dam, Mullapriyar water issues

Updates on 29 Dec 2011: Mullaperiyar: Kerala police prevents attempts by Tamil Nadu to make unauthorized repair works on the dam. The study report by Roorkee IIT about the catastrophe to occur in the event of the dam collapsel to be submitted on 15 Jan 2012. 

Mullaperiyar updates on 10 Jan 2012:  Kerala CM Oommen Chandy to meet Central minister for Water Resources to discuss the Mullaperiyar dam issue. Meanwhile, the borehole testing at the dam structure revealed that the dam is really very weak as suspected by experts. It is reported that the percentage of Surkey mixture that supposedly cements the stones together is very low threatening the safety of the over hundred or so years old dam.

Latest updates on 12 Jan: Kerala govt has finally come out with bold steps in Mullaperiyar case. The govt has submitted its second report to the high powered committee appointed by the Supreme Court.  Points emphasized by Kerala govt on the Mullaperiyar issue are:

• The Supreme Court has to decide on the share of water that is to be given to Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Kerala has the right to get revenue for the Mullaperiyar water share given to Tamil Nadu and also the electricity generated by Tamil Nadu.
• The Kerala govt has the legal power to decommission the Mullaperiyar dam in order to safeguard the life and property of its people.

Meanwhile, in a dramatic move, the Karunanidhi led DMK today said Devikulam and Peermedu taluks, where the Mullaperiyar dam is located, belonged to Tamil Nadu and urged the Centre govt to take steps to restore them to the state.

Seven reasons to save Mullaperiyar:
1. If Mullaperiyar dam collapses, there will be chaos in Ernakulam and Kochi, the industrial hub of Kerala causing damages worth crores of rupees. And if the reverse Tsunami caused by Mullapriyar waters breaks up the Idukki dam, then that will be the end of Kerala.
2. The main under-water sea cables for internet services that connect India to the rest of the world is located at Kochi. If Mullaperiyar breaks, South Indian IT Hub will come to a standstill. All the gateway CISCO routers, switches etc in Kakkanad will be damaged.
3. There will be explosions and damages at Cochin Refineries Limited at Karimugal in case Mullaperiyar dam bursts. The flow of refined petroleum products to the whole of South India will be paralysed.
4. Three districts of Kerala will be washed away with the bursting waters of Mullaperiyar.
5. Lives and properties of millions of people will be ruined. Normal life – TV, internet, mobile networks- will be disturbed.
6. Port City of Cochin and Vallarpadam projects will be washed away with disastrous consequences.
7. Farmers of Tamil Nadu will no longer get water from Mullaperiyar for their agricultural needs and that will spoil the bread and butter of thousands of poor people.

Useful links on Mullaperiyar:
Idukki district shuts down over Mullaperiyar issue

www.naturemagics.com/kerala-articles/mullaperiyar-dam.shtm
Images for mullaperiyar
www.facebook.com/MULLAPERIYAR
www.deccanchronicle.com/.../mullaperiyar-why-tamil-n... - United States
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullaperiyar_Dam