New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu Government has refused to accept the study report on the Mullaperiyar Dam prepared by a team of professors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D).
Professors from IIT Delhi had said that the dam would be 'Hydrologically Unsafe' in the event of heavy rainfall and subsequent floods.
The team of experts from IIT Delhi comprised of Prof. A.K. Gosain and Prof. Subhash Chander.
Durai Murugan, Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister said, "How can we accept a report that has been prepared by two retired professors of IIT Delhi and who were appointed by Kerala Government? The report advocates the Kerala Government."
The Minister further added that a committee appointed by the Supreme Court had already conducted a study on the structure and safety aspects of the Dam and found that the water level could be increased upto 142 feet after carrying out minor repairs. This report was also accepted by the Central Water Commission.
The study by IIT Delhi said that, "The maximum probable rainfall in two days in the catchment area of the dam is about 65 cms, while the PMF recorded is 2,91,275 cusecs. If the catchment area receives heavy rainfall, the PMF level of water in the dam could go up to 158 feet which is more than the maximum level allowed. This would result into collapsing of its walls and consequent flooding."
Kerala Minister for Water Resources, N.K. Premachandaran earlier said that the state had also asked the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT-R) to conduct a study on the 'structural stability' of the Mullaperiyar Dam in the event of possible earthquakes.
