Water for Tamil Nadu and safety for Kerala; plan to build nine new dams including at Mullaperiyar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Roshy Augustine informed the Assembly that the government has plans to construct nine new dams, including one at Mullaperiyar. The government has also started construction of flood control dams in Periyar, Chalakudy, Chaliyar, Pampa-Achankovil and Meenachil river basins for flood control. The minister also stated that a study has been completed as the initial stage of the construction of three dams.

The government is making a move to build a new dam putting the safety of the 129-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam at the forefront. A DPR has been prepared in this regard. Efforts are on to get permission from the Central Government for Environmental Impact Assessment. The Minister stated that Kerala's policy in this matter is water for Tamil Nadu and safety for Kerala.
Thrissur Field Study Circle has conducted study for three dams in Pambar River sub-basin according to Cauvery Tribunal order. The minister informed that in order to effectively utilize the 3 TMC water allocated to Kerala from the Pambar river basin, three dams namely Pattissery Dam included in the Chengal River Project, Lower Chatta Munnar Dam included in the Thalayar River Project and Ottamaram Dam included in the Vattavada Project are planned to be constructed in the Pambar sub-basin.

A study has been conducted to construct a dam across the Siruvani River at Attappadi-Chittoor to utilize 2.87 TMC water out of the 6 TMC water allocated in the Bhavani Basin as per the order of the Cauvery River Tribunal. The minister informed that the detailed project document has been submitted to the Central Water Commission for approval.

There is also a plan to construct a dam on Karapara River, a tributary of Chalakudy River. In this way, it is expected that it will be possible to prevent floods in the Chalakudy River and provide water for hydropower generation, drinking water and agricultural purposes. The Minister also informed that the State Disaster Management Authority is considering a proposal for a feasibility study of a flood control dam at Ambittanpotty in Pothukal panchayat of Malappuram district, which suffered the most damage in the state during the 2019 floods.