Mullaperiyar: Baby Dam still a threat; Kerala's sleep to be disturbed by tree felling

KOCHI: The Supreme Court's new order that Kerala should agree to cut 23 trees in the Periyar Tiger Reserve near the Mullaperiyar dam will pave the way for Tamil Nadu to raise the water level in the dam to 152 feet. The court has also told Kerala not to obstruct the supply of materials for maintenance.

Once the remaining repairs recommended by the Central Water Commission in 1979 are completed, Tamil Nadu will insist on raising the water level to the maximum storage capacity of 152 feet, citing previous court orders. The DMK government has repeatedly stated that full storage is the goal. Meanwhile, Kerala is of the view that it is not possible due to the weakness of the dam.

Since the time of V.S. Achuthanandan as the Chief Minister, Kerala has been demanding that the water level in the weakened dam be lowered to 120 feet. The water level can be lowered to 120 feet only if the Baby Dam is demolished and new spillway shutters are built in the same place. The current spillway shutter is above 136 feet. Tamil Nadu does not take Kerala's argument that there is a weakening of the dam at face value.

It was controversial that in September 2021, the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Forest Department, Bennichan Thomas, had given permission to Tamil Nadu to cut 15 trees behind the Baby Dam as per the decision of the State Water Resources Department. Bennichan, who was suspended from service on November 11, 2021, was acquitted on December 10.

Baby Dam, a threat to Kerala

The Baby Dam, which has not been significantly repaired since its commissioning in 1896, is a major threat to Kerala. It is the Baby Dam that supports the water level in Mullaperiyar from 115 feet to 142 feet. Even if the water level is increased further, the Baby Dam will have to support it.

Repairs

The remaining repairs recommended by the Central Water Commission include strengthening of 20% of the parapet wall of the main dam, baby dam and earth bund. Tamil Nadu has also demanded the development of the Coop Road from Vallakadavu through the tiger reserve.