Kerala trembles as tremors in Idukki continues

As the mild tremors in Idukki district continues and Water level of Mullpperiyar Dam touches its maximum of 136 feet, the people of Kerala is facing renewed menace of dam destruction. A long pending demand of the state for constructing a new dam is still pending because Kerala and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads with conflicting claims about its safety of 116 year old Dam. The fear of the people is justifiable as a mild tremor tremor measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale was felt on 26^th this month in Idukki district. Though no damage to property or injury to people was reported, but the people have thronged to the street and a fear psychosis has been erupted all over the state.

The area had recorded as many as 21 mild quakes since January this year with Kerala citing it as a threat to the dam and insisting on building a new reservoir to replace the existing one which it contends is weak. Water level of Mullapperiyar Dam’s catchment area is raised due to the heavy rain in last 3-4 days.  However, holding a contradictory view, Tamil Nadu has opposed construction of a new dam, asserting that the present reservoir “is as safe and good as new” and accused Kerala of whipping up fear psychosis.

The people voluntarily came out of the homes to the street to demonstrate their protest in most of the centres in the Idukki districts. The experts say that the leak found in various sides of the Dam may cause huge catastrophe which strong enough to submerge five districts in the central Kerala. Hundred sof people, includeing women and children came out of in the streets in different parts of Idukki districts in an attempt to draw the attention of the central and state governments. In some place people blocked the traffic and shouted slogans against Chief Ministers of both states. They too expressed their anger against the central ministers from Kerala. Tamil migrants living in Vandipperiyar also participated in the protests.

Water Resources Minster P J Joseph and Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishanan already started parleys with the central minister. But the legal experts like V R Krishanaiar and have already expressed the view for an out of court settlement between two states.

So far in Kerala this protest never came as a demonstration against the neighboring state. The political maturity of the people prevents the demonstration to turn into an ugly level. The wrath of the people is mainly against the inaction of the incumbent governments in the state and center.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the state would not go back on its demand for a new Dam.

The dam was constructed in 1895 by the British government and currently it is operated by Taminadu based on a 999 year lease agreement, signed by erstwhile British rulers in Madras Presidency and the King of Travancore. The catchment areas and river basin of River Periyar downstream include five Districts of Central Kerala, namely Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Trissur with a total population of around 3.5 million. Water diverted eastwards through a tunnel from the dam joints River Vaigai in Tamilnadu and irrigates Theni, Sivaganga, Madurai and Ramanathapuram Districts of Tamilnadu.

The Mullaperiyar dam is constructed at the confluence of both the rivers Periyar and Mullaiyar to create the Periyar reservoir. From Periyar Thekkady reservoir, water is diverted eastwards to Tamilnadu via a tunnel enabling the water to join the Vaigai River. From Periyar Thekkady Reservoir, the Periyar river flows northwestward into the Idukki reservoir formed by the Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams. From Idukki reservoir, Periyar flows northwestwards and then westward to join the Arabian sea.

The agreement was to give 8000 acres of land for the reservoir and another 100 acres to construct the dam. And the tax for each acre was 5 RS per year. When India became independent, the lease got expired. After several failed attempts to renew the agreement in 1958, 1960, and 1969, the agreement was renewed in 1970 when C Achutha Menon was Kerala Chief Minister. According to the renewed agreement, the tax per acre was 30 RS, and for the electricity generated in Lower Camp using Mullaperiyar water, the charge was 12 RS per kiloWatt per hour. This was without the consent of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala. This agreement expired in 2000. However, Tamil Nadu still uses the water and the land, and the Tamil Nadu government has been paying to the Kerala government for the past 50 years 2.5 lakhs Rs as tax per year for the whole land and 7.5 lakhs RS per year as surcharge for the total amount of electricity generated.

(published in Prajashakthi on 27th november)