KOCHI: As Mullaperiyar issue continues to spread its fire across the state, legal luminaries of the Kerala High Court came together in the protest against the inaction on the dam issue. The advocates observed that urgent measures must be taken to bring down the water level of the dam. Delaying this, until the construction of a new dam, could prove fatal to lakhs of people, they observed. Availing an order from the Supreme Court based on the studies conducted by premier institutions will help in encountering opposition from the Tamil Nadu government.“In 1970, a treaty signed by Tamil Nadu and the erstwhile Travancore government of Kerala, was renewed by Achutha Menon government. As per this agreement, a fixed quantity of water was to be given by Kerala to Tamil Nadu. However, the agreement mentions that either party can revoke or modify it. The matter pending in the court revolves around two issues. Firstly, if it is possible to construct a new dam and secondly, if it is possible to reduce the water level to the lowest possible degree,” said P K Babu, former senior government pleader of High Court and president of the Forum for Social Justice Kerala.“This goal can be achieved by providing modern technology available in the international market. In my opinion, reduction of the water level will not affect the irrigation in Tamil Nadu. On the contrary if they provide adequate facilities to construct a new dam, they can increase their irrigation facilities,” Babu added. A mutual consensus between the two states would be the easiest way to resolve the issue and bring down the water level. However, waiting interminably for the court order could be disastrous, he said.Kerala and Tamil Nadu should evolve there own mechanisms to store water. “Recent earthquakes and predictions of more tremors within the dam premises has called for immediate resolution of crisis. The state has to accept the fact that the construction of the new dam will take several years and it is not an effective solution to the issue. Since, the matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Kerala can secure a favourable order by stressing on the possibility of further tremors and by highlighting the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, research results on the structural stability of the Mullaperiyar Dam, in the event of possible earthquakes,” said Kaleeswara M Raj, Advocate, Kerala High Court.
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