TN to take steps to raise water level to 152 ft

Tamil Nadu will take measures to raise the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam to 152 ft and discussions will be held with the Kerala Government in this regard, said Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam participating in a pooja marking the release of water to Tamil Nadu from Mullaperiyar dam on Monday | vincent pulickal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tamil Nadu will take measures to raise the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam to 152 ft and discussions will be held with the Kerala Government in this regard, said Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. According to him, the late Jayalalithaa had raised this demand in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He was speaking to reporters at Thekkady on Monday after holding ‘poojas’ before opening the shutter of the dam to release water to irrigate the farms in Tamil Nadu. 

He was flanked by Cumbum MLA S T K Jakkaiyan, Theni District Collector and Theni district police chief.However, a leak was spotted between the 10th and 11th blocks of the dam as the water level rose above 127 ft. “The leak found just above 75 ft was not there earlier,” said a Kerala Water Resources Department officer. The water level on Monday was pegged at 127.9 ft and is expected to increase as there is rain in the catchment area of the dam. According to Water Resources Department sources, it would submit a report to the higher authorities regarding the new leak as it’s likely to worsen with the increase in water level. 

The shutter through which water is released to Tamil Nadu.

Irrigation chief executive engineer George Daniel, the state’s representative in the Mullaperiyar sub-panel, had visited the dam on Sunday along with a team from the Water Resources Department.Though the Supreme Court had directed the sub-panel to submit a report to the supervisory committee every week on the developments, it has failed to meet since the water level started rising following heavy rain. As per the apex court order, the sub-panel should visit the dam every week if the dam water rises above 125 ft. 

Water level pegged at 127.9 ft
Though the Supreme Court had directed the sub-panel to submit a report to the supervisory committee every week on the developments, it has failed to meet since the water level started rising following heavy rain. 
As per the apex court order, the sub-panel should visit the dam every week if the dam water rises above 125 feet. 
The water level on Monday was pegged at 127.9 ft and is expected to increase as there is rain in the catchment area of the dam.