Mullaperiyaru Dam and Dam(n)999 movie

- A blemish politician, for his own political aspects building a dam which is not strong, not stable. Finally in few months the dam collapses. Thousands people are died and displaced because of the collapse. - This is the theme of the movie Dam999 recently released.

This movie has created major dispute between two state governments of India, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The "Mullaperiyaru Dam" is what both governments are fighting for.

Before talking about the problem let me explain the history and the general facts about “Mullaperiyaru Dam”. This Dam situated in the state of Kerala, but most of the beneficiaries taken by Tamil Nadu government to facilitate water to their districts. In 18^th century Thiruvangoor Maharaja signed an agreement with British officials (India was a colony nation of Britain those days) that Tamil Nadu government will administrate the dam for 999 year lease basis. Kerala Government will receive a tax amount because the dam is situated in Kerala itself.

The Construction begun in the year 1887 and opened in the year 1895 British Military Engineer John Pennycuick was the chief engineer to the project and was so dedicated towards the project; he sold his wife’s jewelries to finish off the project in a difficult situation. Tamil Nadu people honoured him and placed a statue in Madurai.  The diverted water from the Dam covers a vast area including Madurai, Theni, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and nourishing 80000 hectares of agriculture land. Also a tunnel which is 104 feet height from the bottom carrying water from the dam is what Tamil Nadu government using for their hydroelectric power production for that particular areas.

Now, let me come into the problem. The “Mullaperiyaru Dam” is 116 years old till now. Kerala engineers say that the dam will not even survive for 6 years. You can see the cross section picture here.

The area which the Dam situated has been affected by minor earth quakes from time to time. Because of this severe situation Dam has been renovated several times from the year 1930.

In 1930, Tamil Nadu engineers made 80 holes in order to insert 80 tons of cement mixture to the damaged parts of the Dam. Also in the year 1960, 500 tons of cement mixture used to renovate again. But unfortunately a minor earth quake which resulted a major leak in the dam. If the Dam completely shatters, Kerala fears that 28km of land up to Idukki for the Dam and other minor Dams such as Idukki, Seruthoni and Kolamavu will be also shatter. 3.5 million People will get affected. Now Kerala is very strong that some alternatives should be done.  What actually Kerala says is, to build another Dam beside the “Mullaperiyaru Dam”. So the people and other minor Dams will be protected.

In that proposal, the dam is planned to be constructed in a place which is 50 feet lower than the actual dam. But again Tamil Nadu engineers argue that, if this plan going to be implemented, they have to build the Dam at least for 250 feet of height. By research Tamil Nadu engineers understood that, the place they have planned to build the new dam is not suitable for construction. If Tamil Nadu wants to get water from the Dam, the Dam’s water level should be 152 feet. The new proposed Dam will not meet those requirements mentioned.

Now, both government politicians are making this problem as a big issue.  Tamil Nadu politicians say, “Kerala is jealous that Tamil Nadu is prospering by their water” and Kerala politicians says “for you it’s just a matter of water, for us it’s our life”. This problem is technically handled, not politically.

Special thanks to Sathish Krishnappillai who provided me the statistics by writing his article on Veerakesari Sunday edition (11^th Dec 2011), But I will not accept all this views.

Cheers!!!!!