Kerala to TN: Can’t open, shut dam as you like

Kochi: The Kerala government on Thursday said Tamil Nadu opened the shutters of the Mullaperiyar Dam and released water last night without proper intimation and precautionary warning. Kerala now seeks the High Power Committee to convene its urgent meeting to discuss the matter. State Water Resource Minister Roshy Augustine has observed Tamil Nadu’s decision to open the shutters of Mullaperiyar as a contempt of court, and it would be brought before the attention of the Supreme court when the case is taken up next time, the politico warned.

Stating that people living downstream are suffering due to the sudden release of water in the night, he said the Kerala government is viewing the issue with utmost seriousness and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would take up the matter with Tamil Nadu at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday shot off a letter to his counterpart M K Stalin to direct that such steps are taken during day time and after sufficient warning. On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu had at around 2.30 AM said that it would be opening two shutters of the dam due to heavy rains in its catchment area and subsequently, between 5.00 AM to 9.00 AM it raised more shutters as water in the reservoir reached 142 feet.

Thereafter, state Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine had told the media that the Tamil Nadu government would be asked to avoid releasing water from Mullaperiyar dam at night as was done in the small hours of Tuesday. On Thursday, Tamil Nadu opened eight shutters of the dam, again during wee hours of the day at around 3.00 AM, and without sufficient warning released 6,413 cusecs of water which was later increased to 8,017 cusecs at 4.00 AM by raising all 10 shutters, the CM said in his letter “I seek your kind intervention in the matter so that anxiety and apprehensions of the people living in the downstream areas are put to rest. Directions need to be given that opening of shutters should be done only after sufficient warnings and during day time,” the letter to Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin said. -(PTI)