Mullaperiyar

“Around 80 dams and water bodies in Kerala discharged surplus water due to heavy downpour and this flooded the entire state, whereas the release of water from Mullaiperiyar pertains only to a minor portion of Kerala,” he told reporters after inspecting the Trichy Mukkombu sluice gates, nine of which had collapsed on Wednesday.

According to experts, dam management in India must factor in rain forecasts so that they can be used to check flooding. Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People said most dams are at capacity before rains because they also used for electricity generation, and companies are unwilling to reduce water level beyond a limit since it can impact power generation.

The spat between the two states over Mullaperiyar has been in the top court since 2000, almost three decades after concerns first emerged about dam’s structure, which was built in the 1800s.

In 2007, an experts’ panel had submitted a report to the Kerala government saying there were chances of the dam breaking if the water level was raised beyond 136 feet. A 2009 report by IIT Roorkee had also stated that the dam “was likely to face damage if an earthquake of the magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale struck its vicinity when the water level is at 136 feet”.

In 2012, a five-member Supreme Court-empowered committee headed by former chief justice AS Anand had submitted its report to the top court, focusing on all aspects of the 123year-old dam and its safety.

The Central Water Commission has said that water in Mullaperiyar can be raised to 142 feet, and eventually to 152 feet once strengthening work is completed.

Tamil Nadu has accused Kerala of impeding strengthening work.