The negotiations in the issue of Mullaperiyar Dam between two states TamilNadu and Kerala failed as it appears to be a bone of contention between them.
What is the History of Mullaperiyar Dam and What exactly the controversy is?
History:
Mullaperiyar Dam with a level of 152ft was built across Periyar River in Kerala during 1887-1895 by British Government. The Dam was built under the supervision of Benny Cook. The Dam was built for the purpose of diverting the waters of the west-flowing Periyar River eastwards through a tunnel since it caused wide-spread floods in the Travancore Region. The agreement of lease for 999 years between two states had made during British Rule. According to the agreement the TamilNadu government holds the authority. The Dam provides irrigation waters to nearly 80000hectares of land in TamilNadu areas like Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramananthapuram and Dindigul
Controversy:
The Kerala Government, since 1970 expressed its fear over the Dam’s level(152ft) which would account for 3.5million lives of people living in Kerala. With the intervention of Central Water Commission that looks into the matters of Dam’s safety the water level was reduced to 136ft in 1979. Later the water level was raised by TamilNadu Govt. to 142 ft to which the Kerala Govt. opposed. The Kerala Govt. demands for the construction of new Dam which was opposed by the TamilNadu Govt.
