IDUKKI: The Tamil Nadu government refused to back down from the 142 ft water holding capacity in the reservoir and said the protection of the lives of the people living downstream is Kerala’s responsibility. This was conveyed at the meeting held in Kumili on Wednesday by the Mullaperiyar sub-committee under the supervisory committee appointed by the Supreme Court, in the wake of the water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam raising considerably.
Tamil Nadu nullified the demands proposed by the Kerala government in the meeting held after the five-member committee visited the reservoir in Thekkady.
Kerala demanded Tamil Nadu withdraw the maximum amount of water from the reservoir as the water level in the dam has been increasing considerably due to the heavy rain in the catchment area. It also informed that if the rain continued in the coming days, it would pose a danger to people living downstream.
However, Tamil Nadu claimed the SC had given them the permission to have the water level at 142 feet and said it is the responsibility of the Kerala government to ensure protection to the people settled downstream.
The committee started inspection at the dam premises by 11.30 am on Wednesday. The inspection was held in the main dam area, baby dam, spillway and gallery areas. The efficiency of the working of the dam was tested by lifting up the three, six, eight and 10 shutters of the dam.
The amount of the sewage water flowing from the gallery area has been measured and was recorded at 108.920 litres per minute. However, Tamil Nadu has not yet given the shutter operating manual to the dam authorities which they should follow in case of the level increases alarmingly. The dam’s water level crossed 133 ft on Wednesday. When 5,941 cubic ft of water flows into the dam, Tamil Nadu withdraws 2,100 cubic ft for irrigation.