The indecision on decommissioning dilapidated Mullaperiyar dam is cruel

The Centre and Tamil Nadu Government have the bounden duty to ensure the safety of lakhs of people of Kerala by decommissioning the 117-year-old dilapidated lime and earth masonry dam of Mullaperiyar.

After all, what is the purpose of this dam? To provide water to the people of Tamil Nadu. There has been no hurdle to fulfil this purpose. Tamil Nadu has been making a lot of money by generating power from the water released from Mullaperiyar, in addition to using the water for irrigation purpose. This would continue to be provided even after a new dam is built.

Our celebrated Chief Minister the late C.Achutha Menon had renewed the contract for 999 years with Tamil Nadu without raising any objection. Now on hindsight, one should say a clause should have been inserted to ensure the safety of the dam as it was constructed using age-old and irrelevant technology.

The broad-mindedness of Kerala should not be taken advantage of by the Tamil Nadu Government. Does it think that this fragile dam can withstand for another 999 years.
A breach of the dam would cause devastation on a larger scale than the destruction of a nuclear bomb.

Now that Tamil Nadu would not see reason and common sense would not prevail, the Centre should intervene quickly and if there is any problem with Tamil Nadu it can approach the Supreme Court to make a quick decision on the basis of the reports of damages wrought on the dam by now. There are many reports, including those from the Intelligence wing about the fragility of the dam.

It would be cruel on the part of the Centre not to act in the matter.