The Mullaperiyar Dam was constructed in 1895 across the Periyar River to provide water for Tamil Nadu. It is located in Idukki District, Kerala and is over 115 years old. There is an ongoing dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the safe water level in the dam due to its age and safety concerns. Kerala is concerned about the risks of catastrophic failure that could endanger lives downstream, while Tamil Nadu relies on water from the dam and wants to maintain water levels. The Supreme Court is involved in resolving the issue.

1. MULLAPERIYAR DAM
MULLAPERIYAR DAM ISSUE
ISSUE
By
SOP 12
Alex George
Aparna Mohan
1
Bijesh S.B
Geethu K.Ravi
Rahul P.M
Vinayak S.L

2. MULLAPERIYAR DAM
 It is constructed over the headwaters of the Periyar River in
1895
 situated in Idukki District of Kerala
 The Periyar National Park, Thekkady is located near the
Periyar reservoir formed by the backwaters of this dam.
 The name is derived from a portmanteau of Mullaiyar and
Periyar.
 In 1886 a lease for 999 years was made between Maharaja of
Travancore and Madras presidency
 The dam was built by British Army Engineering corps under
the supervision of Benny Cook.
 Still standing because of the excellence of the British
2
Government work

3. CONT…
 By another agreement in 1970, Tamil Nadu was permitted to
generate power also.
 The dam stops the west flowing river to form a
reservoir, exclusively located in Kerala.
 From the reservoir, Tamil Nadu collects water to the eastern
side of Western Ghats via a tunnel.
 Badly needed for the arid lands of
Theni, Ramanathapuam, Sivaganga and Madurai Districts of
Tamil Nadu.
 The water from the Mullaperiyar Dam reaches to Idukki
Dam,kulamavu dam and cheruthoni dam.
 Idukki dam is the biggest hydel power reservoir in Kerala 3
and a major producer of Electricity in the State.

4. MULLAPERIYAR DAM DISPUTE
 Grand example for inter basin water transfer
 has a height of 155 feet(47.24m)
 water is stored up to a height of 136 feet only
 against the protest of neighboring State of Tamil Nadu
which demands to store water up to 142 feet(41 to
43m).
 The Kerala government has opposed this
move, considering the safety issues
 more than hundred year old bridge and the thickly
populated 4 districts downstream
 More than 5million people will be wiped out 4

5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE
DISPUTE
 The project came into being after the Madras
government entered into an agreement with
Travancore state in 1886
 gave right to divert "all the waters" of the
Mullaperiyar and its catchment to British territory for
999 years.
 and the use of waters of the river flowing through
the tract for irrigation purposes by diversion.
 After Independence, both the entities became non-
existent.
 treaties between British Government and Indian
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Princely States have lapsed.

6. CONT…..
 Subsequently, a supplement to the principal
agreement was signed in May 1970 by both parties
to enable the use of the waters for power generation
by TN.
 people from both states are reaping the benefits of
this century-old inter basin water transfer.
 In 1979, the dam showed signs of distress
necessitating urgent repairs
 Consequently the water level was brought down to
136 ft
 After the requisite repairs were completed, TN
wanted the water level to be raised to 152 ft
 which Kerala did not agree to, on grounds of safety.
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7. CURRENT STATUS
 Supreme Court has allowed for the storage level to
be raised to 142 feet(2006).
 Kerala enacted a new "Dam Safety Act" against
increasing the storage level of the dam
 But Kerala did not object giving water to Tamil
Nadu.
 Their main cause of objection is the dams safety as
it is as old as 115 years.
 Increasing the level would add more pressure to be
handled by already leaking dam.So we need to
construct a new dam
7

8. CONT…
 Tamil Nadu want to increase the water level to
142 feet
 Environment and Forests ministry of India granted
environmental clearance to Kerala for conducting
survey for new dam.
 Kerala argued that if Mullaperiyar is an
interstate, the SC has no jurisdiction to intervene in
the issue .
 According to this agreement, only the dam area is
leased to Tamil Nadu, and water is not leased.
 Kerala also argues that if the water level is
increased to 142 feets, wide forest areas that are
inhabited by conserved flora and fauna will be 8
inundated.

9. CONT…
 Tamil Nadu also asserted that Mullaperiyar is not an
interstate river,
 The Tamil Nadu counsel argued that Kerala has an
motive to make a new dam and keep it under its
control.
 Tamil Nadu fears that the water supply will be
restricted if Kerala builds a new dam and controls it.
 MDMK, has called for a road blockade on May 28 to
stop transport of food grains, vegetables and milk to
Kerala to protest its proposal to construct a new
dam in place of the Mullaperiyar dam.
9

10. CONT…
 On 18 February 2010, the Supreme Court decided to
constitute a five-member empowered committee to
study all the issues of Mullaperiyar Dam and seek a
report from it within six months.
 The Bench in its draft order said Tamil Nadu and Kerala
would have the option to nominate a member each, who
could be either a retired judge or a technical expert.
 The five-member committee will be headed by former
Chief Justice of India A. S. Anand to go into all issues
relating to the dam's safety and the storage level.
 The ruling party of Tamil Nadu, DMK, passed a
resolution that the state government will not nominate
any member to it
10

11. CONT…
 Consisting of D.R. Rajpal Singh, J.Director of
CWPRS,Senior research officials
Pankajkumar, Vythriy, Rizwas Ali, Cauvery Water
Tribunal technical committee member Siva
Subramanyam.
 Collect details from inaccessible areas by using
expert deep water swimmers & underwater
camera’s.
 These committees have to give report to supreme
court regarding the settlement of issues prevailing
between Kerala & Tamilnadu
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12. KERALA’S STAND ON THE
ISSUE
 Collapse of the dam will create the greatest man-
made disaster
 Kerala does not want to raise the level of water
from 136 cft to 142cft.
 The existing dam is in an area prone to
earthquake- IIT-Roorkee report, IISc-Bangalore
 Kerala seeks to own and operate a new Dam.
12

13. CONT…
 Even after the new construction, the water supply to
TN from the old structure would continue
 TN is not cooperating with Kerala in inspections
 Tamil Nadu officials did not permit the Kerala
engineer to carry out his duty.
 Tamil Nadu did not respond to the letters from the
Kerala Government
13

14. TAMILNADU’S STAND ON THE
ISSUE
 The attitude of the Kerala government is a danger
to TN
 Kerala want to abort the existing water sharing
agreement
 Kerala wont be able to provide water to Tamil Nadu
from the new structure.
 Kerala does not utilize water wisely whereas Tamil
nadu use it judicially.
 Demolition of Mullaperiyar dam will make 4 districts
in TN deserts.
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15. CONT…
 Unilateral movement by Kerala Govt. to ascertain
the safety of the dam
 Kerala tries to hinder implementation of Supreme
Court verdict, 2006- by the amendment of State
Irrigation and Water Conservation Act, 2003
 No need of a new dam. The existing dam itself is
safe.
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16. MULLAPERIYAR DAM : A TIME BOMB
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17.  The Mullapperiyar dam is one of the oldest dams
in operation in the World.
 The Dam was built on a technology available 115
years ago.
 As for the people of Kerala the danger from the
Mullaperiyar Dam is real and serious.
 Tamil Nadu which demands to store water up to
142 feet. The Kerala Government cannot do that
on account of the structural weakness of the Dam.
17

18.  IIT Delhi conducted a study which stated that the
dam safety would be affected even at a level of
136 ft (41 m).
 IIT Roorkee conducted structural stability study on
the Reservoir and found that the structure would
not be safe in the event of an earthquake
 The Dam is situated in a quake prone area
 20 mild tremors were reported this year alone and
the latest was a few days ago
18

19.  Idukki Dam is just 30 Kms away from Mullaperyar.
 The water from the Mullaperyar Dam reaches to
Idukki Dam, the biggest hydel power reservoir in
Kerala and a major producer of Electricity in the
State
 Our nation has been famous for post mortem for
any disaster than proactive measures to prevent
them
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20.  “If Tamil Nadu has to go without water, naturally Kerala
will have to go without food. The day the Mullaperiyar
dam is demolished, national integration will be in
question and any emotional outburst will have serious
chain reactions on both sides.”
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21. 21

22. FAILURE OF DAM ALSO OCCUR DUE TO THE
FOLLOWING CAUSES:
1.Liquefaction of the materials used in the dam.
2.Liquefaction in the foundation soil.
3.Inability to estimate performance of the dam and foundation
characteristics by comparison with case histories of dam
failures .
4.Slope failures induced by ground motions
5.Sliding of the dam on weak foundation materials
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23. 6.Disruption of dam by major fault movement in the
foundation
7.Loss of freeboard due to slope failures or soil
compaction
8.Piping failure through cracks induced by the
ground motions
9.Overtopping of dam due to slides into the
reservoir
10.Overtopping of dam due to failure of spillway or
failure of dams upstream 23

24. SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE
 According to the views of govt. & experts the only
solution is to built a new dam for preventing the
greatest man made disaster ever
 Reservoir level is to be maintained below 136 ft. till
a new dam is built
 Water released is to be measured and priced anew
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25. CONCLUSION
For commissioning a new dam in mullaperiyar the
paper works are going on, but the earthquakes
have no paper works to do before they hit at a
target
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