New dam is only solution

The Mullaperiyar dam has been a contentious issue in Kerala, sparking widespread concern and debate every monsoon season, due to the looming threat of a catastrophic disaster. This year, the concern has arisen much earlier. The recent landslides and heavy casualties in Wayanad have reignited the fear among people about the Mullaperiyar dam. A call has already been made to mobilize people to protest against Tamil Nadu's stubborn stance on the Mullaperiyar issue. A date has been set to stage a satyagraha. The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam is nearing its maximum allowed capacity during the southwest monsoon itself. There is a fear that the situation could become catastrophic if the northeast monsoon intensifies. All that people can do is pray that such a situation does not arise.

The Mullaperiyar dam, ageing over 125 years, is once again embroiled in a familiar controversy over its safety. One group argues that storing more water in the dam, which is already weakened, would invite disaster. On the other hand, some claim that the dam is completely safe and that the concerns about its weakness are unfounded. These people are making the claims without providing any evidence to support their claims. When ordinary people, who lack expertise in scientific and technical matters, hear or read about these arguments, they are left confused. Many are anxious about the potentially catastrophic consequences of a disaster and are filled with fear and apprehension.

The construction of a new dam is the sole solution to safeguard Kerala and its people from the Mullaperiyar threat. Although discussed for over twenty years, the project has been stalled due to Tamil Nadu's vehement opposition. Despite Kerala's assurance to continue supplying water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with the existing agreement, they refuse to listen. The mere mention of a new dam sparks hostility from the Tamil Nadu government and its people towards Kerala. Although Kerala enjoys a cordial relationship with the current DMK government of Tamil Nadu, past experiences indicate that Tamil Nadu remains unwilling to yield on the Mullaperiyar issue. The prospect of a devastating disaster resulting from the dam's failure does not appear to perturb them. Their stance remains that the current Mullaperiyar dam should remain as it is. Furthermore, the Supreme Court's verdicts, which have favoured them in two phases, have bolstered Tamil Nadu's position.

The court verdict allows Tamil Nadu to raise the water level up to 142 feet. However, considering the safety concerns, the water level is being maintained at 136 feet. Kerala advocates for reducing the level to 120 feet and constructing a new dam downstream, but Tamil Nadu dismisses this proposal. Given the recent instances of floods and dam failures across the country, the Kerala government should leverage the present cordial relations to encourage Tamil Nadu to reassess its position on Mullaperiyar. This is the only way to eliminate the security threat posed by Mullaperiyar. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted on the security threat of Mullaperiyar. Kerala's failure to present a strong case based on these reports has resulted in setbacks in the Supreme Court. Kerala must convince the court that its concerns and fears regarding the Mullaperiyar issue are not mere imagination, but are rooted in realities. Simultaneously, it must apply sustained political pressure on Tamil Nadu to drive home the need for a new dam as a viable solution."