Damn it! Why can’t we build another Mullaperiyar

Well!  this is nothing to do with the history of Mullaperiyar Dam, in Idukki, just Google it and you will get enough information. My question, is the 113 year old dam safe?

Some experts say this dam has already outlived its life span, and it’s on the verge to burst anytime, so be ready. I don’t buy that argument, because if that is true why then some sensible statesman made a lease agreement for a period of 999 years and an equally sensible statesman signed it.

I fail to understand the significant use of this Dam in Kerala, but damn it, the water is used for agriculture in Tamil Nadu on the other side of the valley.  Today morning the Tamil Nadu CM seems to be asking Kerala in a tone: ‘Why this kolaveri..kolaveri di’… (English: Why this murderous rage, it’s a hit number from the upcoming Tamil movie). The CM has requested her counterpart in Kerala not to instill fear in public, because Mullaperiyar Dam is pretty fine and there is nothing to panic, so sleep in peace (or rather rest-in-peace if it burst).

So why this sudden outburst of emotions and fear that the Dam will burst and the buzz to ‘#SaveMullaperiyar‘ is doing the rounds on the social network? Well! It all took one tremor in Idukki district last Tuesday to shake the consciousness of the entire Kerala citizens to sit back and think, is the water bomb ticking?

An Executive Engineer found three minor cracks on the top surface of the Mullaperiyar after the tremor, and he then stated the cracks are not serious.

Who should I believe? The Media – for taking this opportunity to play messiah or the Politicians for politicizing the issue.

According to my knowledge, Mullaperiyar is a masonry composite structure that suffered a good deal of its durability due to continuous stripping of lime from its essence. This dam is in a physical seismic geological zone, which makes it unsafe if an earthquake of average volume hits the area. It’s an immediate threat to the lives of 35 lakh inhabitants and also poses a danger to Idukki reservoir. So taking into account its age, the worsening situation and the risky nature, the Dam must be decommissioned and a new one should be built.

As said above we don’t have any significant use of this Dam, so why not build it for you so we can store more water for our Tamil Nadu brothers for their agriculture purpose.  Let us see this as a mutual benefit, since we don’t cultivate anything and are wholly dependent on you for vegetables and literally for everything.  Secondly your farmers don’t lose their market this side. So if not for our sake but for your sake let us take this forward.  Finally I am very uncomfortable wearing a life jacket to sleep. So let us stop this Kolaveri…Kolaveri.. thing before it’s too late.

Dam(n) it! Why can’t we just build another Mullaperiyar?

  • http://twitter.com/vivek782 V!vek Balakrishnan

    This is a sensitive issue!! Issue need to be sorted out,not just blame game takes us to anywhere. Whenever Mullaperiyar issue comes to frontline,Tamilnadu authorities are turning their faces,which does no do any good. Why can’t they tell specifically their needs than doing agitations on this matter. Hope some amicable solution for the issue comes out sooner.As author pointed out the place is a seismic prone site,another dam to same site is not advisable!!

  • Guest

    tamil nadu generate electricity from mullaperiyar dam, and it is not referred any where, if a new dam constructed there should be an agreement where this will not be allowed or they have to pay for it. that is the major reason behind the negative attitude of tamil nadu, one interesting thing is, if an earth quake of more than 6 in the richter scale, the idukki dam will not survive it, then the story will be the same. so dismantle all the dams, to save electricity, after 7 everybody should go home and sleep, no street lights, no lights for hoardings, no bars, nothing total shut down or use solar powered lights for all these activities. some thing drastic some thing solid we have to do or we all will perish soon or later.

  • Rainman

    DAMNED if you do…..DAMNED if you don’t!!!

  • Francis Anisha

    this explains why kerala does not need to build another dam. And can also cut out all the damn drama and panic
    http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=391673&catid=38&year=2011&month=11&day=30&Itemid=66

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