Mullaperiyar dam is a type of masonry gravity dam. John Pennycuick built this dam between the years 1887 and 1895. This dam is situated in the Indian state of Kerala however, the dam is operated and maintained by the Tamil Nadu Government. This dam has been constructed across the Periyar River.
Highlights
The height of the dam is 53.6 meters. It is of the length 365.7 meters. It is situated just at the confluence of the Periyar and Mullayar rivers. The catchment area of ??the dam is in Kerala. According to a UN report, the dam must be closed. This is because the dam is located in a seismic area, threatening 3.5 million people. The Dam is at the center of a long-standing controversy over its use between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The Periyar National park is around the dam’s reservoir. It is a nature reserve in Kerala. It is also a protected tiger sanctuary. There are more than 35 tigers. In the year 2002 it was declared as an elephant sanctuary. In the year 2005, there were about 1,100 elephants located in this reserve.
Construction
The main challenge of the dam was to divert the water of the river so that the lower part of the dam could be constructed. Dams and makeshift levees were washed away by frequent rainfall and floods in the area. British troops eventually stopped funding the dam. John Pennycuick then sold his wife’s jewellery to raise money and accomplish his job. This dam is a gravity dam. That is, it is made of concrete made from limestone and burnt brick powder.
Purpose of Constructing the Dam
The River Periyar flows west into the Arabian Sea. However, it was turned east to supply water to the rainshadow area of ??Tamil Nadu (the area on the other side of the mountain, which has significantly less rainfall), especially in and around Madurai. The Periyar Thekkady reservoir was created by this dam. Water from the reservoir was diverted east to strengthen the Vaigai River, the main river in Madurai.
Safety of the Dam
After the failure of the Morvi Dam in Gujarat in the year 1979, some safety concerns were raised about the Mullaperiyar dam aging. This structure cannot withstand a 6 magnitude earthquake. The Tamil Nadu government has lowered the dam’s water level twice. Initially reduced to 142.2 feet from 152 feet and later reduced to 136 feet. Central Water Commission gave orders to lower the water level.
Issue between the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Governments
In the year 1886, a lease agreement for the Dam was signed between the British Secretary of the United Kingdom and Maharaja of Travancore. According to the agreement, a 999 year period lease was signed. This gave the British Government full authority to build and maintain the dam. After independence, Madras State was reorganized as Madras and later Tamil Nadu while Travancore Cochin later Kerala was reorganized as a state. The Tamil Nadu Government operates the dam under an agreement signed in the year 1886 but Kerala government wants to renew the agreement as Kerala government states that the present agreement is invalid.
Committee of Justice A.S. Anand
The Commission was established by the Supreme Court to investigate the Mullaperiyar Dam issue. According to the committee, the dam is hydrologically and seismologically safe.
Stance of the Kerala Government
In the year 2006, the Government of Kerala enacted the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act. According to the law, the state must guarantee the safety of all endangered dams. In addition, the Mullaperiyar Dam was listed by law as endangered. Finally, in the year 2009, the Kerala government wanted to build a new dam. The Tamil Nadu government turned to the Supreme Court and stopped construction.
Stance of the Tamil Nadu Government
In Tamil Nadu, this Dam and the rerouted Periyar water serve as lifelines for the Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramnad districts, supplying irrigation and drinking water and power to the lower Periyar power plant. Tamil Nadu argues that the construction of a new dam will help develop unfair tax revenues in the states which are developing. Tamil Nadu does not have access to data on the terrain of Kerala. Despite Tamil Nadu’s payment, the roads have not been built and the electricity supply has not been restored.
