As Kerala picks up pieces, a political blame game erupts
ACCUSATION Cong terms floods ‘manmade’, BJP slams govt for ‘unplanned opening of sluice gates’ The situation should have been different if dam management was done properly. Leave alone scientists, even common people pleaded with dam authorities to release water gradually.
RAMESH CHENNITHALA, Opposition leader THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
As the people in flood-battered Kerala come to terms with their losses and begin to pick up the pieces, the blame game has begun.
Opposition parties, which stood united with the government during the worst floods to have struck Kerala in a century, are now pointing fingers saying better-informed dam management and timely opening of sluice gates would have proved less disastrous for the state.
The Congress has termed the floods a “man-made disaster” and sought a judicial probe into the circumstances that led to the calamity.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the unplanned opening of the sluice gates of at least 40 dams.
Over 250 people have been killed by Nature’s fury since the first week of August and over a million people displaced.
Initial losses suffered by the state have been pegged at ₹ 20,000 crore. Plans are now afoot to mobilise additional funds apart from that pledged by the central government.
“The situation should have been different if dam management was done properly. Leave alone scientists, even common people pleaded with dam authorities to release water gradually. But they kept waiting in an effort to generate maximum power,” claimed opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.
He sought action against electricity and dam officials and accused the government of sitting over forecasts from the meteorological department.
Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president PS Sreedharan Pillai said the fury of the floods could have been contained had the government done its homework properly.
Experts have questioned whether water should have been discharged much earlier and gradually from the brimming Idukki , Cheruthoni and Edamalayar dams.
Water levels in several dams had risen to full capacity by Julyend but the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which manages most of the dams, chose to open shutters only by mid-August, they claimed.
“In Kerala, water is managed most unscientifically. Sadly, many leaders still want more dams,” said well-known environmental scientist Madhav Gadgil, scoffing at some leaders’ claims that another dam across the Athirapallywaterfallwouldhave limited the damage in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.
Kerala State Electricity Board chairman NS Pillai denied any delay in opening shutters.
“We managed the situation till the last minute but torrential rains were beyond control. At one point, we feared that some dams would burst but we effectively contained the situation. It is highly improper to blame Kerala State Electricity Board officials,” he said.
State Dam Management Authority chairman, Justice C N Ramachandran, said officials had taken all precautions before opening shutters.
However, former power minister Aryadan Mohamed said damage should have been limited if authorities had acted swiftly.
“During the southwest monsoon in 2103, the Idukki dam was full but we anticipated danger and opened shutters of small satellite dams. But now we waited till the eleventh hour and opened all dams together,” he said.
The government has, however, maintained that there were no flaws in opening shutters.
Clearance to open shutters will be given on the request of the dam in-charge after gauging the seriousness of the situation, a senior revenue official said.