History of Mullaperiyar Dam
The MullaPeriyar Dam is a gravity dam on the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It became 123 years old in 2024. After 80 years of construction, this dam had cracks and leaks in its wall, and today, it is bigger. Tamil Nadu manages the dam due to an interstate agreement. The dam was designed by the British engineer Major John Pennycuick. The construction of this Mulla Periyar dam started in 1887 and was completed in 1895. The purpose of the making of this dam was to divert the Periya River to the Vaigai River basin because Tamil Nadu faces frequent droughts, and that is why in 2024 the management of this dam is in the hands of the Tamil Nadu government.
In 1886, the agreement between the British-ruled Madras Presidency (Tamil Nadu representing) and the Maharaja of Travancore (representing Kerala) was made, and the land and the dam were given to the British-ruled Madras Presidency for a 999-year lease. Which granted operational control of the dam to Tamil Nadu despite its location in Kerala.
Danger Mullaperiyar dam
has the capacity of holding 443.23 million cubic meters of reservoir water.
It is a gravity dam that is 53.6 meters high and 365.7 meters long. Why is this dam called the “Danger Mullaperiyar Dam?”You can read the Mullaperiyar Dam issue below.
Dam issue
Mullaperiyar dam issue is the age of the dam, 123 years old, and the dam is located in Seismic Zone III. The people of Kerala claim that the dam could die during an earthquake or heavy rainfall. Kerala wants the reserve water to be below 136 feet for safety, but Tamil Nadu wants the water level to be 142 feet for irrigation and power generation.
Seriously, if the dam fails for any reason, the 5 districts and 35 lack people in danger. In 2024 the dam gets the big cracks, and it is a call for a big disaster.