Mullapperiyar Dam , Past, present and the future Kerala Article

posted on 02/04/2007
Mullapperiyar dam (also known as mulla periyar,Mullai periyar , periyar dam, Mullaperiyar )is located in the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The land belongs to Kerala, But the dam is owned by Tamil Nadu Government. This beautiful dam, one of the oldest serving dams in the world, also described as an engineering marvel, considering the technology available at the time of construction, has its history dating back to British India.

Many areas of Vaigai basin in Madras Presidency was suffering from repeated famines and it was unsuitable for cultivation .This was a headache to the then British government , which ruled India. It was planned to build a dam to divert waters of the Periyar river which was flowing west to the Arabian sea, to the East to extend irrigation in the Vaigai Basin. Since the land belonged to the then Travancore, the Secretary of State for India and the Maharaja of Travancore signed in 1886 a long term lease deed which was valid for 999 years. The dam was designed and executed by Col. Pennycuick,who was a british engineer. The Project was completed in the year 1895.After that the people in the Vaigai Basin have prospered and agriculture is booming.

It is a dam built using old technology and naturally was not based on modern parameters for design of dams. The main binding material used in the dam was lime, and according to many reports, much of it has been eroded. Even though some maintenance work has been done, Many believe that the dam is not fully safe. Also possibility of a tremor is a great safety issue.Currently there is a difference of opinion between Kerala and Thamilnadu, as to what should be the allowable height of water in the dam. Thamilnadu, on the basis of a supreme court order, wants the water level to be raised to 142 feet, but Kerala fears that the dam will not withstand this.

If anything happens to the dam, It is feared that water will flow into Kerala and and many parts of Kerala will be flooded. An equally important point is that if the dam is not there, many areas of Thamilnadu will experience severe draught, and water shortage will affect agriculture in these places. Vaigai basin may go back to its previous stage. So it is in the interest of both states to keep the dam safe.

Comments on this topic so far:

New Dam In Mullapperiyar Says Kerala CM.
Submitted by Guest on Tue, 2007-04-03 18:06.
Kerala Chief minister VS Achuthanandan has demanded a new Dam in mullapperiyar. Also Also It is reported that kerala has argued that the mullapperiyar contract is void. Tamilnadu CM says that kerala has mislead the PM.
I feel that national parties should have a national view on the matter and conflicts should be avoided.

» reply
What is happening to mullapperiyar recently?
Submitted by admin (not verified) on Tue, 2007-02-06 08:07.
What is happening to mullapperiyar recently?
(also known us mullai periyar,periyar dam, Mulla periyar)

1. Kerala and tamilnadu was forced to a discussion table . Kerala strongly raised the issue of saftey, and proposed a new dam. Tamil nadu did not concede.
2. Tamil nadu Unilaterally withdrew from the discussions and decided to approach supreme court.
Kerala wanted an explanation but none was given.
3. A high power commitee of the parliment decided to visit Mullapperiyar, But later decided to visit rajastan. Some allege that this is because of the influvence of tamilnandu.
4. Kerala High court considered a petition to declare mullaperiyar contract void and issued notice to Tamil nadu and Kerala.

» reply
trace these valuable files
Submitted by UMAMAHESWARI on Sun, 2006-12-17 20:26.
I can provide you certain file numbers. If traced and argued wisely, the Kerala government is sure to win this case.
Huzur English Records political section: 1901 to 1912 volume III page 50 furnishes the following file numbers.
1. f no: 38, 1901
2. f no: 83, 1901
3. f no 42, 1901
4. f no 42 a 1901 and
5. f no 329 1907

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