As per Central govt document, no loss to TN even if water level in Mullaperiyar Dam is reduced to 136 feet

KOCHI: The official document of the Central government states that Tamil Nadu's demand to raise the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam to 142 feet is unnecessary and that even if the water level is reduced to 136 feet, there will be no harm to irrigation and agriculture in Tamil Nadu.

According to the document, the area of irrigated agricultural land in southern Tamil Nadu has increased three and a half times since 1979 when the water level was regulated at 136 feet than when the water level was 155 feet in 1896.

This is stated in the 1997 History of the Periyar Dam with Century Long Performance report published by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP), an internationally renowned central government agency in New Delhi, on the 100 year (1896 - 1995) operation of the Mullaperiyar Dam.

The report prepared by A. Mohanakrishnan, who was the head of the Tamil Nadu Government's Inter-State River Water Management Committee and Chairman of the Cauvery Special Cell, contains authoritative information that can be presented in favour of Kerala. The document states that even if the water level is lowered to 136 feet, there will be no loss to Tamil Nadu.

Water Level and Irrigation in Tamil Nadu

1896 - 1964 (water level 155 feet)

60, 450 to 1, 58, 602 acres of irrigated agricultural land in Madurai region.

1964 - 1978 (water level 152 feet)

Irrigated agricultural land increased from 1, 68, 347 to 1, 71, 307 acres.

1978-79 (water level 145 feet)

Irrigation continued that year as it had in the previous year.

When the water level dropped to 136 feet since 1979

The area of ​​irrigated agricultural land in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts has increased to 2,29,718 acres.

In the Kambam Valley

During the period 1979-1995, the area of ​​irrigated land increased to 7215 acres only in the Kambam Valley of Tamil Nadu, where water from the Mullaperiyar first reaches.

CBIP

Central Institution established in 1927. 94 years of service tradition. An internationally recognized institution that provides expert services to professional bodies and engineers in the fields of water resources and energy. CBIP is the Indian chapter of ten international organizations in these fields.

M Mohanakrishnan

He was in charge of major irrigation projects in Tamil Nadu. Since retiring as Irrigation Chief Engineer, he has been the Irrigation Adviser to the Government of Tamil Nadu since 1984, the first Director of the Irrigation Management Training Institute in Trichy, and a member of the Standing Commission on Irrigation and Water Resources.

He is the author of 'The Technical Document on the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project' published by Annamalai University and 'Selected Papers on Irrigation' published by the Trichy Irrigation Management Institute.