Tamil Nadu rejects Kerala's demand for new Mullaperiyar dam; Kerala offers to bear full cost

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tamil Nadu has rejected Kerala's demand for the construction of a new Mullaperiyar dam, despite Kerala offering to bear the entire cost and continue supplying the full share of water to Tamil Nadu.

The issue was raised by Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan at a meeting of Chief Ministers of southern states. Satheesan said Kerala was deeply concerned about the safety of the ageing dam and was ready to meet the entire cost of constructing a new one. He also said Tamil Nadu could decide the location and design of the proposed new dam. Kerala's only concern, he said, was the safety of the existing dam and the people living downstream.

Tamil Nadu, however, strongly rejected the proposal, saying there was no immediate safety threat to the dam. The state also reiterated its demand to raise the water level to 152 feet. Tamil Nadu representatives said the dam's safety had been certified by the Supreme Court-appointed high-level committee and expert committee. They described Kerala's safety concerns as a repeated argument raised by the state.

Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar, who took part in the discussion, said the Mullaperiyar water was vital for agriculture in areas including Madurai and Ramanathapuram. He added that agricultural products, including vegetables grown using the water, were also supplied to Kerala. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, who later concluded the discussion, reiterated the state's position that there was no safety threat to the dam and called for raising the water level to 152 feet. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who chaired the meeting, did not express an opinion on the issue. Vijay is the Vice-Chairman of the council.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, along with the Administrator of Lakshadweep.

In his opening remarks, Satheesan also raised issues including amendments to the central mining law, night travel through the Mysuru region, the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway project, delimitation and the Women's Reservation Bill. The Mullaperiyar issue came up during the discussions on state-specific matters.

Tamil Nadu's concerns

Tamil Nadu's concerns are linked to the existing agreement governing the Mullaperiyar dam. In 1887, the British government and the erstwhile Travancore kingdom signed a 999-year agreement regarding the supply and use of water. The agreement was renewed in 1970 by the C Achutha Menon government. Tamil Nadu fears that the existing agreement could become invalid if a new dam is constructed, affecting its current rights and control over the project.

One of the world's most dangerous dams?

1. Mullaperiyar has been described as one of the dams facing the highest risk in the world. A report by The New York Times reportedly identified Mullaperiyar as the only dam specifically mentioned in its assessment.
2. A dam failure could affect an estimated 35 lakh people, according to warnings cited in the report. The study was published in the wake of the devastating dam disaster in Libya, which claimed thousands of lives.
3. The Mullaperiyar dam is 131 years old, and visible signs of deterioration have reportedly been found in several areas. The dam is also located in a region considered vulnerable to earthquakes, adding to Kerala's long-standing safety concerns.