Misleading campaign in TN has affected peace: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 19 : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the misleading campaign in Tamil Nadu on Mullaperiyar dam issue has affected peace and harmony among people in both the States.

Releasing a book 'Mullaperiyar - Why the Demand for a New Dam,' written by KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala, Mr Chandy said though Kerala got full support on national-level for its genuine concern, the misleading campaign by certain sections in Tamil Nadu had created panic among common people. ''Every second is precious for millions of people living downstream of the dam in Kerala. Every-day is important for farmers in Tamil Nadu as they depend on water from Mullaperiyar dam. Kerala has no problem in giving any quantity of water to Tamil Nadu.

People in Tamil Nadu should understand this stand of Kerala. They should not fall into the false propaganda by vested interests. There is no hidden agenda for Kerala on the dam issue. We are ready to give this assurance to Tamil Nadu at any platform,'' he said. There were highly disturbing news about several instances of attacks on Keralites in Tamil Nadu on the eve of the current debate on the Mullaperiyar issue, he said.

''In Kerala we have taken every possible step to ensure that no person from Tamil Nadu is attacked. There are large number of students from Kerala studying in various institutions in Tamil Nadu. Their families in Kerala are in a state of anxiety. The Government will do all possible help for their return to Kerala during Christmas holiday,'' he added.

''Anti-social elements in both the States should not be allowed to create violence. Stringent action should be taken against those elements who are involved in such illegal acts,'' he said. ''It is unfortunate that the Mullaperiyar issue should spill over into events affecting peace and harmony among our people. We have always valued the excellent cooperation and goodwill between our two States,'' he said.

_ Agencies

Dec 19, 2011 

Save MullaiPeriyar Dam...Else.....

Request From A Tamil Youth...!!!


To our fellow Indians…

So far you have been made to believe what the Keralites driven indian media wanted you to believe. They have forcefully inserted their opinions about Mullai Periyaru issue in the minds of people, with no factual evidence. But here I have provided you with FACTS, out of which I want you to make an opinion on your own, based on the facts and FACTS only! 

The two main questions raised to Tamilnadu are, 

1)”Is it not dangerous to rely on MP dam which is now 116 years old? How long it can sustain?” 
2)”The Government of Kerala, after building the proposed new dam, has promised to provide tamilnadu with the same quantity of water it provides now. But then, why Tamilnadu is so adamant in not accepting the offer?"

Before answering these, there are a few facts you must know about the MP dam.

1) It was built in 1895 in an area of 8000 acres that belonged to Travancore Kingdom. So a pact was made and according to that, the place was leased for 999 years with a rent of 40000rs per year. And the dam built in that area would belong to Tamilnadu and the place would belong to the kingdom of Travancore, which is now the state of kerala. 

2) The important point to be noted is that, a part of Periyaru (river) originates in Tamilnadu and then it travels 47kms to join mullayaru originating in the western Ghats of kerala. And again, please remember that a part of the river and the whole dam (including operational rights) belongs to Tamilnadu! But unfortunately, since the dam is situated in the place belonging to Kerala, the dam and the operations is dominated by the Kerala government for many years now. 

3) The MP dam can hold water up to 152 feet or 15.66TMC out of which only 10TMC can be used. The remaining is dead storage. Approximately 2,08,000 acres of agricultural land in the districts of Madurai, Theni, Ramanathapuram, sivagangai which includes more than 10lacs farmers, solely depend on MP dam for water and there is NO other source! And also, around 60Lac civilians count on the water from MP dam for their drinking purpose. So obviously water from MP Dam is the lifeline for more 1/7th of the whole Tamilnadu population. So depriving water from MP dam would make the area a desert and would take away the only source of their living.

Now, why this sudden propaganda about the weakness of the dam? Why all this havoc? 

1)In the year of 1976, Kerala built a dam in Idikki (Idikki dam) which has a capacity of more than 7 times that of MP dam, i.e 70TMC. 
2) But unfortunately Idikki dam could never be filled because MP dam was in its way and it got filled year after year for three years. This was not anticipated by the kerala government. And obviously they got disappointed. 

3)Immediately in 1979 a call to demolish Mullai Periyaru Dam was raised by kerala, stating that the dam was weak and if it explodes, 35lakhs people would die of flood!

A new dam! Is is not a favor for tamilnadu? 

1) If mullai periyaru is demolished, the water would straight away fill idikki dam and it will fulfill its purpose.

2) But Mullaiperiyaru cannot be demolished without proposing an alternative. So kerala formulated an idea for a new dam, which is ridiculous and practically of zero value to Tamilnadu..

3) The idea for a new dam is just an eye wash. The proposed place to build the new dam is at a height of 1853feet from sea level. Whereas the MP dam is at a height of 2861feet from the Sea level. Meanwhile, the water pathway from MP dam is artificially made by digging caves through mountains and due to the sky scrapping height at which MP dam is situated, though there are many hurdles, the water travels many kilometers and reaches the vaigai river in Tamilnadu. But this cannot happen with the proposed new dam. Even if the Kerala government wanted to provide Tamilnadu with water, they could not because of the natural barriers. 

What if Mullai periyaru is really weak? How could somebody take such a big a risk?

Even for the sake of argument, if we assumed that MP is weak and it would explode, the water released will straight away reach Idikki dam which is at a very lower altitude. There are no cities or villages in between this mountainous terrain pathway, and what kerala states about the loss of lives and all is utter nonsense. 

Facts and Repair procedures: 

1) As kerala claims, MP Dam is not just a dam built of lime stone. In the year of 1933, 50 ton cement was injected to strengthen the dam. And again in the year 1960, 500 ton cement mixture was injected. 

2) In the year of 2000 supreme court ordered a commission to evaluate the MP dam and according to that commission, tamilnadu did used the latest anchoring technology and injected concrete mixture. And also a concrete shield was constructed over the entire outer structure of the dam. Literally a new concrete dam was built. 

3) After all these procedures, supreme court evaluated the dam and was very much impressed with the strength of the dam and ordered to raise the storage level to 156feet on 27/02/2006.

4) As an immediate reaction to this, Kerala passed a resolution in its assembly which not only disregarded the order but also was very much against the order of the Supreme Court. Now again Tamilnadu has reached the supreme court for justice. Anticipating a Judgement against them, kerala has created all these false propaganda and havoc which is puncturing the brotherly relationship between the people of two states. 


Now my dear Indians! These are facts! Decide yourselves. Cross check these facts and choose your side. Support us in our farmers’ plea for their livelihood. I don’t think kerala politicians are technically stronger than the commission appointed by the supreme court to evaluate the MP Dam. Kerala has openly challenged the supreme court which is the highest authority and the deciding factor of our country. 

The photo you see above is not of some African country. It was shot during a famine (1876-78) in tamilnadu. Only after this famine, Benny Quik decided to build the Mullai periyaru dam and saved millions of lives. If Tamilnadu loses the MP Dam now, it would face such a famine once again! Please support us and help us save the dam. Share this link. Thank you!

Written By
- Don Ashok (pingilavarasan@gmail.com) 

Reply from a Tamil to Malayalee Friend on Mullai Periyar.

You can find a letter addressed to a Tamil friend regarding the burning issue of Mullaperiyar in  this link 

A Tamil Friend's Reply Found Here...

Thanks for the wonderful , heart touching letter....
some simple questions left out....
If at all there is a problem in Periyar Dam , why don't your government give a chance to TN Government to rectify it...?
Your kerala government's attorney general recently clarified , even if Dam broken nothing will happen to public...what you have to say about that? 
if at all the DAM is dangorous then why Kerala failed to proove that in Supreme Court in the year of 2006 ( just 5years ago?)
unfortunately you people don't understand or pretend not to understand the real motive behind this unreasonable demand.....
offcourse , few hundred years ago we were all speaking same language and we are still brothers and sisters....
you can't find a single small town in tamilnadu with a malayalee..
another simple question...as per your opinion when the Dam not even withstands for 100 years , how there might be an agreement for 999years?

Regards From A

Tamil Friend.  

Letter from a Malayalee to Tamil Friend on Mullaperiyar

The letter to a Tamil friend from a malayalee friend

Dear Brother,

We just want to add sorry to the protests going on.
We are not enemies but friend
The protest is not against people of Tamil Nadu.
Most of the people believe that It is a water issue like Kavery dispute.
Its Not………………………..
Please understand.
The sudden dispute follows is due to fear of local people due to 24 small earthquakes for last two months. The local people have their own fears.
As we know in Koodam Kulam though experts and scientist are saying that plant is safe local people have their own fears. Then you can imagine about a dam of 115 years which is to be decommissioned 57 years before.
And that’s why there is a protest.
We don't need a single drop of water. It will be raining in Kerala at least for 300/360 days a year.
There is no scarcity of water here.

What Kerala has asked for is the permission to build a new dam and the request for new dam has to be considered seriously as human lives are in danger.
Kerala government is ready to give full authorization to get Tamilnadu 100% of water from new Dam.
We don’t want a single drop of water.
We are no enemies.
There is no problem between peoples of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
It’s all by politicians of both states.
So it is a false publicity that Kerala is doing all these for water
Moreover Tamilnadu is the water scare state in the country. It takes its share of water from the 3 states that surround it, if Mullaperiyar dam collapses other people will look to catch fish in the muddy water to change their r agreements with Tamilnadu in the court in other water issues which may affect it badly.

We feel sorry about any problems caused to you by us.
Kerala and Tamilnadu have been friends for thousands of years.
We have our food and grains from Tamilnadu as you no there are no proper agriculture in Kerala.
So it’s our need rather than yours to supply water for agriculture.

All other disputes are cheap political polling games.
Please never take it as a political issue.

We both are to be friends forever as before.
Let’s rethink on humanity.

Your friend
(Malayalees)


Krishnamurthy 


A tamil friend's reply can be found in this link 

Centre should decide quickly on dam issue: Karunanidhi

"It should realise the dangers of situation deteriorating"

The Centre should give up its habit of delaying decisions and decide quickly on the Mullaperiyar dam issue to prevent Tamils' blood being spilled on the streets, DMK president M. Karunanidhi said on Monday.

Addressing DMK workers who observed a fast at the party headquarters, Mr. Karunanidhi said that the Centre should not remain an onlooker and should realise the dangers of the situation deteriorating with adverse consequences.

Stressing that Tamils will not tolerate the conspiracy hatched in Kerala to convert Tamil Nadu into a Sahara desert, he said no fool would accept a situation leading to the destruction of his country and the future generations.

“People from Kerala move freely in Tamil Nadu. They should continue to enjoy this freedom and we have no objection to it. But, Tamils in Kerala should also enjoy similar freedom,” he said reiterating that Kerala was also part of ancient Tamil Nadu and should continue with the feeling that all are Indians.

Accusing the Kerala government of spreading obnoxious and false propaganda through the media that the dam was weak and unfit for increasing the water level, he said the Supreme Court had given a ruling in favour of raising the water level from 136 feet to 142 feet in 2006 itself.

“But the Kerala government enacted a new legislation in the Assembly to nullify the order. We don't know whether it was the Assembly or a body inferior even to a village panchayat to so bend rules to suit one's whims and fancies.”

He said though the Kerala Assembly adopted a resolution in favour of retaining the water level at 136 feet, now the state wanted to reduce the level further to 120 feet.

“Generally there is an opinion that Keralites are intelligent and talented people. But they are talking in terms of further reducing the water level. Whom do they want to cheat? Not just Tamils, but also the people of the country and those who want India to remain united, should think about it.”

Recalling how he and former Chief Minister of Kerala E.M.S. Namboothiripad were able to reach an agreement on sharing the river water in 1969, he said that it could not have been possible if he and E.M.S. had in their mind only interests of their respective states. Earlier, DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan inaugurated the fast.

Party's treasurer M.K. Stalin led the fast at Tambaram. He said that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa convened a special session of the Assembly on the Mullaperiyar issue on December 15 after the DMK announced its decision to hold human chain protests in five districts on the same day. The human chain protest has been advanced to December 14.

Keywords: Mullaperiyar dam issue, DMK, one-day fast, Anna Arivalayam

Mullai Periyar Issue : News Line 12/12/2011

Don't play with lives over dam: Stalin to Kerala

CHENNAI: DMK leader M.K. Stalin Monday asked Kerala not to play with the lives of people of Tamil Nadu by "false propaganda" about the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam.

Addressing a gathering ahead of a protest fast at Tambaram near here, Stalin said: "Political parties in Kerala are carrying out false propaganda about the safety of Mullaperiyar dam."

The former deputy chief minister warned them "not to play with lives of people living in southern Tamil Nadu".

DMK’s day-long fast on dam issue begins

Tension continues at Kumily

Tension is prevailing in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border near Kumily check post with a hundreds of protestors marching towards the check post from Lower Camp in Tamil Nadu.

Police force led by George Varghese, Idukki District Police Chief, had positioned near the check post anticipating trouble.

The protestors were stopped at nearly 200 metres from the check post by the Tamil Nadu police at around 1 p.m. The local police were backed-up by the members of the India Reserve Battalion. Later, police officials from Armed Reserve Police and Kerala Armed Police had joined the forces at the check post.

Asra Garg, Superintend of Police, Madurai, held discussions with the senior police officials of the State regarding the law and order situation.

R. Sreelekha, Inspector General of Police, central zone, had reached Kumily on Sunday morning and held discussions with the officials. She had also visited the Rosapookandam near the check post where some miscreants had unleashed violence on Saturday.

Tensed TN Crowd Want to Enter into Kerala Border : Video 

V S Achuthanandan , Oommen Chandy to meet Prime Minister on Mullaperiyar Dam issue

Thrissur, Dec 11: Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly and senior CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan today said that he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to apprise the seriousness of the Mullaperiyar issue and demand construction of a new dam in place of the century-old dam.

Tamil Nadu ads holler Mullaperiyar is safe

Chennai, Dec 9: The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday published full-page adverts in newspapers, asserting that the Mullaperiyar dam continued to be safe, just a day after the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution insisting that a new replacement dam be built, escalating the standoff between the two neighbouring states over the 116-year-old structure.

Mullaiperiyar Dam Issue

There are lots and lots of stories about mullai periyar from all the sides. Today both Tamilnadu and Kerala is almost fighting each others. TN CM's effigy burning in Kerala and do in Tamilnadu.

From years together we lived like brothers and sisters. Old Sangam Time History Says Kerala was part of a Tamil Kingdom called 'Chera'....Today with minor changes and sanskrit influence malayalam is little different than Tamil.  Not just words and meanings too remains the same....In tamil I   stated as 'Naan' and in malayalam 'Yaan' ....Many scholars say , Malayalam is Sanskrit influenced Tamil... Most of the dialogues can be easily understood in both the communities.

Ancient Chera king's brother Ilangovadikal written Tamil's famous literture 'Silappathikaram.' . Their ancient capital was Vanchi Muthur in the Kanthallur-Kizhanthur (Kuzhumur) region of the Idukki district of Kerala .

Today the same Idukki district escalates tension between the states. You can find a malayalee doing business ( those who speak Malayalam ) in any corner in Tamilnadu. Most of the border districts among tamilnadu and kerala has deep routes to their relationship.

How the division happened. In  fact there is no division , it is just because of the politicians this issue made it to the public in this nuisance way. Every part of India became politicized and this DAM is not exceptional.

A Supreme court order says 'the dam is safe  and must increase the water level..' Kerala states advacate general says ' even if Dam is affected by an earth quake , it doesn't make much damage to people.' So who estimated the damage? Is it good enough to waste people's money based on assumption?

So , Kerala's real interest is on 'Dam on Danger Due to Earth Quake' or something else? Here Comes the Buck...The Dam was built by British Government about 100 years ago..more on it you can simply find in wikipedia...else i will produce some of the important notes on it. ( thanks to wikipedia.com)

Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River.^[1][3][6] It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above mean sea level on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki District of Kerala, South India. It was constructed between 1887 and 1895 by the British Government to divert water eastwards to Madras Presidency area (the present-day Tamil Nadu). It has a height of 53.6 m (176 ft) from the foundation and length of 365.7 m (1,200 ft).^[1] The Periyar National Park in Thekkady is located around the dam's reservoir. The dam and the river are owned by and located in Kerala ^[1] but the dam is controlled and operated under a period lease by neighboring Tamil Nadu state.^[1]

The Periyar river which flows westward into the Arabian Sea was diverted eastward to flow towards the Bay of Bengal to provide water to the arid rain shadow region of Madurai in Madras Presidency which was in dire need of a greater supply than the small Vaigai River could give.^[8] The dam created the Periyar Thekkady reservoir, from which water was diverted eastwards to via a tunnel to augment the small flow of the Vaigai River. The Vaigai was dammed by the Vaigai Dam to provide a source for irrigating large tracts around Madurai. Initially the dam waters were used only for irrigation. Later, the Periyar Power Station in the lower Periyar, Tamil Nadu was built which generates hydro-electricity from the diverted waters.^[10]
Currently, the water from the Periyar (Thekkadi) Lake created by the dam, is diverted through the water shed cutting and a subterranean tunnel to Forebay Dam near Kumili (Errachipalam) in Tamil Nadu. From Forebay dam, hydel pipe lines carry the water to the Periyar Power Station in Lower Periyar, Tamil Nadu. This is used for power generation (175 MW capacity) in the Periyar Power Station. The Lower Periyar Power Sation was constructed in 1956.
From the Periyar Power Station, the water is let out into Vairavanar river and then to Suruliyar and from Suruliyar to Vaigai Dam.

The Periyar project, as it was then known, was widely considered well into the 20th Century as "one of the most extraordinary feats of engineering ever performed by man".^[8] A large amount of manual labour was involved and worker mortality from malaria was high. It was claimed that had it not been for "the medicinal effects of the native spirit called arrack, the dam might never have been finished".^[8] 483 people died of diseases during the construction of this dam and were buried on-site in a cemetery just north of the dam.

What is the Real Issue behind the Dispute? My opinion will follows on second  part of this story.!