States »SoutPosted at: Nov 8 2021 7:00PM It was TN which released water from Mullaiperiyar dam to Kerala as per Apex Court directive : Duraimurugan
Chennai, Nov 8 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan on
Monday clarified that the spillway gates of the Mullaiperiyar dam was opened
by TN in the presence of officials from Kerala by following the orders of the
Supreme Court.
The Opposition AIADMK has criticised the DMK government for releasing
water from the dam even before the storage level reached the Supreme
Court permitted level of 142 ft and said it has caused apprehension among
the farmers.
The AIADMK also said the DMK government was duty bound to explain the
position to the farmers as to whether the dam was opened by Tamil Nadu
or Kerala.
In this context, Mr Duraimurugan, in a statement here said the water was
released by TN WRD authorities after giving prior intimation to the Kerala
government.
He said as per the Standard Operating Procedure before opening the
Mullaiperiyar Dam, advance information has to be given to the officers
of the Kerala government.
Accordingly, an intimation was given on October 27 at 6.00 p.m to Kerala
and others stating that the water level in the dam was increasing and the
spillway gates would be opened on October 29 morning.
Accordingly, the spillway gates were opened on that day at 7.29 a.m. by
the officers of WRD, Tamil Nadu. At that time, the Minister and officers of
Kerala were also present. Thus, the decision to open the gates were made
by WRD, TN, and opened by the officers of Tamil Nadu, who are regulating
the dam, Mr Duraimurugan said.
The Minister said the Supreme Court in its October 28 order in the writ
petition filed by Dr.Joe Joseph of Kerala that "to assuage the apprehension
of the Parties will place on record for the time being the Parties will abide
by the water level notified by the Expert Committee (which is the Rule Level
approved by the Central Water Commission) (CWC).
Needless to observe that it will be open to the Committee to review its decision
from time to time including on hour-to-hour basis, if the situation so warrants, he
said.
Mr Duraimurugan said as per the Rule Curve approved by CWC, the water levels
to be maintained in the dam are, on October 10 at 138.50 ft. on October 20 at
137.75 ft. and on October 31 at 138 ft.
From October 27 afternoon the water level was raising and the next day morning
the level was 138.05 ft. On October 29 it increased to 138.75 ft while the permitted
Rule level for the corresponding period was 138 ft.
This increase was after drawing maximum water to Vaigai through the tunnel. Thus,
the excess water had to be released through the spillway after giving due advance
intimation to Kerala.
Accordingly, the water was released through the spillway. Therefore, in order to follow
the October 28 direction of the Supreme Court, the water above the Rule level has to
be necessarily released.
The water can reach 142 ft. level on November 30, he said.
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