Special Sitting of Tamil Nadu Assembly Wants Kerala to Raise Water Level

In a special sitting on Thursday, Dec 15, the Tamil Nadu Assembly adapted a special resolution, calling upon the Kerala government to make suitable amendments to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment ) Act, 2006 to enable the water level of the 116 year old Mullaiperiyar Dam to be raised to 142 ft. While moving the resolution, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa also asked the Kerala government not to create hurdles to the execution of the remaining strengthening measures for facilitating the water level to be raised to 152 ft. eventually.

She also categorically said that under no circumstance will the rights of Tamil Nadu on Mullaiperiyar dam would be compromised. She also demanded deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for the protection of the dam in view of the tense situation prevailing in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Ms. Jayalalithaa, who initiated the debate on the resolution, also wrapped it up. In her initial and concluding speeches, she explained the historical account of the Mullaiperiyar dam issue and the works carried out by the State government to strengthen the dam during 1980-1994.

Ms. Jayalalithaa further said that a suspicion had arisen that the Kerala government was carrying on the “mischievous campaign” regarding the dam safety possibly for producing more hydropower. The Original plan of the Kerala government was to produce 780 MW through the Idukki dam, located 50km downstream of the Mullaiperiyar dam. But, as the dam was not getting enough water, the planned power production could not be achieved, and that if there is no Mullaiperiyar dam then the entire water will reach Idukki facilitating Kerala to generate more power. The resolution was passed unanimously by the Tami Nadu Assembly where all parties rose above their political differences in support of peoples’ rights.