Team for Mullaperiyar Dam contingency plan on hold
December 27th, 2011 - 5:59 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, Dec 27 (IANS) The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has put on hold the setting up of a team to formulate a contingency response plan for the Mullaperiyar Dam in case it bursts, the Tamil Nadu government said Tuesday.
The state government said in a statement that the NDMA has ordered halt to the formation of a team to chalk out the contingency response plan for Mullaperiyar Dam till a Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee looking into the dam safety issues submits its report.
The Empowered Committee is expected to submit its report in February.
On Dec 21, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa accused the NDMA of succumbing to the subterfuge of Kerala by constituting a team to formulate a contingency response plan for Mullaperiyar Dam in case it bursts.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also the chairman of the NDMA, Jayalalithaa expressed her shock at the setting up of the team.
In her memorandum submitted to Manmohan Singh Sunday, the issue of NDMA team for Mullaperiyar Dam was mentioned.
Other political parties in the state also expressed their opposition to the NDMA move.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the dam, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British Raj.
While it is located in Kerala, the control of the dam is with Tamil Nadu and its waters serve the state.
Tamil Nadu wants the dam’s storage capacity to be increased from the current 136 feet (41.5 metres) to 142 feet (43 metres) according to a Supreme Court order, while Kerala wants a new dam whose control will be with it.
- Jayalalithaa takes on disaster authority over Mullaperiyar - Dec 21, 2011
- 'Tamil Nadu will send police to protect Mullaperiyar' - May 27, 2012
- Tamil Nadu house asserts rights over Mullaperiyar Dam - Dec 15, 2011
- PM calls for restraint on Mullaperiyar Dam issue - Dec 14, 2011
- Tamil Nadu bans screening of 'Dam 999' - Nov 24, 2011
- Kerala, Tamil Nadu officials to discuss Mullaperiyar dam - Dec 05, 2011
- Tamil Nadu has executed major work at Mullaperiyar: Kerala - Nov 09, 2010
- Let Kerala give up two taluks to end dam row: Karunanidhi - Jan 12, 2012
- Kerala again speaks of new Mullaperiyar dam - Jan 03, 2012
- Tamil Nadu plans memorial for Mullaperiyar Dam builder - Jan 09, 2012
- Advise Kerala against new dam, Jayalalithaa urges PM - Nov 24, 2011
- Moves to defuse Mullaperiyar dispute - Dec 05, 2011
- Don't allow release of 'Dam 999', demands Karunanidhi - Nov 24, 2011
- Mullaperiyar: Special session of Tamil Nadu assembly Thursday - Dec 14, 2011
- Chandy slams Jayalalithaa's varying stands on public safety - Nov 30, 2011
Tags: british raj, chief minister, contingency plan, contingency response, dam safety, disaster management, j jayalalithaa, loggerheads, management authority, manmohan, manmohan singh, national disaster, ndma, new dam, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, response plan, storage capacity, tamil nadu government, travancore