Mullaperiyar - Kerala Assembly passes resolution for new dam

It is not a regular scene that the governing side and the opposition joining hands in the Assembly. But today, in the Kerala Assembly, all the political parties teamed up despite the ideological differences to adopt a resolution calling for a new dam in the place the existing 116 year old one at Mullaperiyar. The resolution had also a clause to lower the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam to 120 feet from the current 136 feet.

The resolution was moved by the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after an active disscussion that lasted more than three hours. This was a special Assembly session completely dedicated to the Mullaperiyar issue. After the disscussion, the Assembly unanimously passed the resolution under the rule 275 expressing serious concern over the safety of millions of people residing downstream of the dam.

The Chief Minister opined that the construction of a brand new dam in the location the exisisting structure is the only solution to resolve the issue without hurting anyone. Kerala does not want to harm the good relations with Tamil Nadu. Oommen Chandy reiterated that Kerala is ready to provide same amount of water from Mullaperiyar to Tamil Nadu after the construction of a new dam. He also added that it is sad that Tamil Nadu is not bothered about the safety of the people of their neighbouring state.

During the discussion, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition demanded that the water level in the dam should be brought down immediately in light of the dangerous circumstances ahead. He also said that the Centre should intervene on the issue as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous and beyond the imaginations.

The Assembly members representing almost all political parties expressed their concern over the protection of the three million people living down stream of the dam. The frequent earthquakes in the region have made things more difficult. Citing the studies, they all indicated that the dam is very fragile and may not hold out against a major earthquake.