Kochi: With the Mullaperiyar issue hotting up, Kerala High Court on Tuesday sought more technical information on the 116-year-old structure even as the state said the Navy and Territorial Army are ready to meet any eventuality.
When a batch of petitions raising concern over safety of
the dam came up before a division bench, comprising Acting
Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra
Menon, the court asked the government if it was equipped in
case of an emergency.
Advocate General KP Dhandapani said the Navy and
Territorial Army are ready to meet any eventuality. Five
control rooms have been set up and there is a helipad about 40
km from the dam, he said.
The bench also asked the government to make people aware of
precautionary measures through the visual media and
distribution of pamphlets in case of an emergency.
Though the AG was present, technical experts M K
Parmeshwaran Nair, Chairman of Mullaperiyar Special cell and T
M Manoharan, Chairman of Kerala State Electricity Board,
clarified various queries raised by the court.
The court had directed them at the last hearing to present
themselves before it to answer questions.
The bench today directed them to give further details on
distance between the dam and mouth of Idukki reservoir and
velocity of water when it starts from Mullaperiyar till it
reaches Idukki dam.
The experts also gave details on safety levels of the
water at Idukki to be maintained taking into consideration the
water required for generating electricity.
Parmeshwaran Nair said Idukki was the strongest dam in
India and could hold water from Mullaperiyar.
Manoharan said power generation from Idukki dam,which holds
maximum water was four times that of last year. During normal
flow, there would not be much danger but in case of any
eventuality, it would be devastating with rocks and boulders
being swept down by the raging waters, he said.
Following their explanations, the petitions were posted to
Dec 15 for further hearing.
PTI
