PALAKKAD: The breach of the bank of Moolathara dam (regulatorcum- bridge) which forms part of the Chitturpuzha irrigation project, has come as an eyeopener at a time when debate is raging over the safety of Mullaperiyar dam.
When Tamil Nadu has been vouching for the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam in the apex court, this incident reflects the fact that the state will be relegated to mere spectator before the nature's fury.
Tamil Nadu had intimated the officials only on Saturday night that they were releasing water from Aliyar dam. The late intimation, they say, was because the North East monsoon had surprised them and the dam was filled suddenly.
Secondly, Tamil Nadu had stated that they would release 14,000 cusecs of water but on Sunday morning the flow of water into the Chitturpuzha was an unbelievably 38,000 cusecs.
This proves that the officials of the TAmil Nadu Water Resources Department were totally helpless before the fury of nature.
If the mud bank had not given way, the entire Moolathara dam (regulator-cumbridge) would have been washed away.
The whole of Chittur taluk is being irrigated with the water released into the Chitturpuzha.
The Aliyar dam was constructed in the early sixties by Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, the interstate Parambikulam–Aliyar river water sharing agreement was worked out under which annually 7.25 tmc feet of water was to be released into the Chitturpuzha.
The water from the Parambikulam dam, Aliyar dam and Thirumurthy canals overflow into the Chitturpuzha.
This is the second major incident at the Moolathara regulator- cum- bridge. In 1992, there was a major mishap when five shutters of the Moolathara dam collapsed after releasing of water from the Aliyar dam. Two shutters on the left side and three on the right side were washed away then.
This time, the mishap was a minor one since only the mud banks were washed away. This has resulted in the Kunnamkattupathy mini dam overflowing submerging nearby areas.
The Water Authority has stopped pumping from the river as turbid water flowing down the river cannot be treated for drinking purposes. The bridge connecting Pudunagaram and Thattamangalam has also submerged paddyfields.