Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: An expert panel has after thorough evaluation found the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams to be safe, reports said on Tuesday.
Two technical experts on the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee submitted their report on the safety of the disputed structure to the panel yesterday and said the fears about the dams’ safety were unfounded.
The experts said in the report that the recent earthquakes in the Idukki district did not have any impact on the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams.
CD Thatte, former secretary to the Union Ministry of Water Resources, and DK Mehta, retired chief engineer, Central Water Commission, had carried out inspections at all the dams in and around the Mullaperiyar catchment area to look for any damage to structures in the wake of the recent tremors.
The inspection followed a plea by the Kerala government amid fears that the earthquakes had taken a toll on the structure of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.
The report was submitted yesterday to the Committee’s head, former Chief Justice AS Anand. The other members of the Committee include retired SC judges KT Thomas and AR Lakshmanan.
The Committee yesterday evaluated the report and concluded the objections raised by Kerala do not hold ground and ruled the Mullaperiyar dam to be safe.
Kerala had pleaded that the water level should be reduced from the present level of 136 ft to 120 ft to make the structure safe.
The Committee is learnt to have taken the view that since the water level was decided by the Supreme Court, it could not take a decision to the contrary.
The Committee will again meet on January 24 and 25 to finalise the report which will then be submitted before the Supreme Court in February.
The other party to the dispute, Tamil Nadu has been contending that the dam was safe and can withstand pressure.
First Published: Wednesday, January 04, 2012, 11:53