Date:06/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/06/06/stories/2007060604002100.htm

Back Expert panel against raising Mullaperiyar water level

Our Bureau

Calls for environmental impact assessment

Thiruvananthapuram June 5 A national expert committee set up by the State Water Resource Department that studied the `ecological impact assessment of water level increase at Mullaperiyar dam' has expressed fears that there were chances of the century-old dam breaking in case the water level is raised beyond 136 ft.

Releasing its findings here on Tuesday, Dr Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, Chairman of the committee, said the ecological impact of such an eventuality would be catastrophic. The easiest way to avoid this will be to restrict the water level to more or less the present limit.

ECOLOGICAL IMPACT

The committee observed that any increase in water level will submerge a greater part of the critical grasslands of the Periyar ecosystem, and this could severely impair the food chain of the endangered Periyar tiger. It is imperative to carry out a detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) as a statutory requirement to fully understand the ecological impact of raising the water level.

Signs of distress and fear were visible amongst the tribal people living around the settlement area comprising six villages. All engineering efforts to raise the water level should be put on hold until the completion of the EIA studies, including a comprehensive study of the ecological impact of raising the water level along with a social cost benefit study of additional expenses that would have to be incurred for strengthening the dam and digging out a new tributary system for additional water.

Currently, matters relating to raising the water level are being handled by the Water Resources Department. It would be advisable to set up a coordinating committee headed by the Chief Minister with all stakeholder departments within its fold, the committee said.

This, according to the committee, will allow convergence and best use of all related views and expertise to ensure the ecological security of the natural resource system in question as well as protection of life and livelihood of the people concerned.