tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84267632519661593842023-11-16T09:00:06.626-08:00Mullaperiyar Dam DisputeExploring solutions beyond politicsPonnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-63579343471214165732018-11-17T02:12:00.001-08:002018-11-17T02:15:55.505-08:00999 year lease <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<a href="https://www.rashtradeepika.com/rasal-jdfjf11/">https://www.rashtradeepika.com/rasal-jdfjf11/</a><br />
<h1 class="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0460a7; font-family: "Noto Sans Malayalam", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
ഞെട്ടിക്കുന്ന കരാര്! മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാര് അണക്കെട്ടിനെക്കുറിച്ച് റസല് </h1>
</div>
Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-69222339577740083862015-12-08T19:25:00.000-08:002015-12-08T19:25:17.163-08:00Supreme Court Judgment May 7, 2014 in Mullaperiyar Dam Dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Supreme Court Judgment May 7, 2014 in Mullaperiyar Dam Dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala:<br />
http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/outtoday/41511.pdf<br />
<br />
The judgment portion is reproduced below:<br />
"221. In view of the foregoing discussion, we hold that Tamil Nadu is<br />
entitled to the reliefs as prayed in para 40 (i) and (ii) of the suit. Consequently,<br />
it is declared that the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment)<br />
Act, 2006 passed by the Kerala legislature is unconstitutional in its application<br />
to and effect on the Mullaperiyar dam. The 1st defendant – State of Kerala – is<br />
restrained by a decree of permanent injunction from applying and enforcing<br />
the impugned legislation or in any manner interfering with or obstructing the<br />
State of Tamil Nadu from increasing the water level to 142 ft. and from<br />
carrying out the repair works as per the judgment of this Court dated<br />
27.2.2006 in W.P.(C) No. 386/2001 with connected matters.<br />
222. However, to allay the apprehensions of Kerala- though none<br />
exists - about the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam on restoration of the FRL to<br />
142 ft., a 3-Member Supervisory Committee is constituted. The Commmittee<br />
shall have one representative from the Central Water Commission and one<br />
representative each from the two States – Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The<br />
representative of the Central Water Commission shall be the Chairman of the<br />
Committee. The Committee will select the place for its office, which shall be<br />
provided by Kerala. Tamil Nadu shall bear the entire expenditure of the<br />
Committee.<br />
223. The powers and functions of the Supervisory Committee shall be<br />
as follows:<br />
(i) The Committee shall supervise the restoration of FRL in the<br />
Mullaperiyar dam to the elevation of 142 ft.<br />
(ii) The Committee shall inspect the dam periodically, more<br />
particularly, immediately before the monsoon and during the<br />
monsoon and keep close watch on its safety and recommend<br />
measures which are necessary. Such measures shall be carried<br />
out by Tamil Nadu.<br />
(iii) The Committee shall be free to take appropriate steps and issue<br />
necessary directions to the two States - Tamil Nadu and Kerala –<br />
or any of them if so required for the safety of the Mullaperiyar<br />
dam in an emergent situation. Such directions shall be obeyed by<br />
all concerned.<br />
(iv) The Committee shall permit Tamil Nadu to carry out further<br />
precautionary measures that may become necessary upon its<br />
periodic inspection of the dam in accordance with the guidelines<br />
of the Central Water Commission and Dam Safety Organisation. "<br />
<br /></div>
Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-81127658726509513532015-12-08T18:57:00.005-08:002015-12-08T19:16:00.465-08:00Water Released from Mullaperiyar Dam As Water Level Crosses 142 feet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Nature's fury-- Water released from Mullaperiyar dam (Photo Courtesy 'the Hindu') </span><br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/water-released-from-mullaperiyar-chaos-in-downstream-villages/article7961965.ece" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>news/national/kerala/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>water-released-from-mullape<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>riyar-chaos-in-downstream-<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>villages/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>article7961965.ece</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">?</span></div>
Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-91127746570516712772012-01-04T10:04:00.000-08:002012-01-05T14:29:48.528-08:00The case for a new dam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
N.K.Premachandran, former Minister for Water Resources, in the erstwhile LDF Government of Kerala, has presented his arguments for a new dam in the Op-Ed published in 'the Hindu' of January 3, 2012.<br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article2769504.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article2769504.ece</a><br />
<br />
His main arguments are summarized below:<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Why?</span></b><br />
1. Kerala's apprehensions about the dam's stability: From the lime-surki concrete used as construction material, 3500 tonnes of lime have been washed away during the course of over a century.<br />
<br />
2. Strengthening done by Tamil Nadu (with 542 tonnes of concrete) cannot guarantee the structural stability of the dam.<br />
<br />
3. The dam lies in a seismic zone. The structure would collapse in the event of a Magnitude 6 earthquake (reference: Dr. Arun Bapat and Dr. D.K.Paul, of Earthquake Engineering Department of IIT, Roorkie: 'Structural Stability of Mullaperiyar Dam with Regard to Seismic Effect')<br />
<br />
4. The dam is hydrologically unsafe (Dr A.K.Gosain of IIT, Delhi) based on 'Probable Maximum Flood Estimation and Flood Routing of Mullaperiayar Dam'.<br />
<br />
5. Disaster Impact: Idukki dam cannot contain the flood water in the event of Mullaperiyar dam collapsing. The combined storage of both dams crossed the FRL (Full Reservoir Level) in 1981, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2005 and 2007. Idukki would overflow and its stability would be under serious jeopardy.<br />
<br />
A disaster would impact 1.5 lakh people living between Mullaperiyar and Idukki dam and 35 lakh people in the river basin downstream.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">What?</span></b><br />
The permanent solution to avert disaster (using 'precautionary principle') lies in constructing a new dam. This was decided on January 25, 1979 in the meeting with CWC Chairman:<br />
'A joint team of engineers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala will explore the possibility of locating a new dam within a reasonable distance from the existing dam." An agreement was signed by officials from Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Dec 20, 1979 to that effect and approved by CWC<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">How?</span></b><br />
1. The present dam will be left intact without disrupting water supply to Tamil Nadu during construction of new dam. Kerala has passed a resolution to continue supply of water to Tamil Nadu.<br />
<br />
2. After completion of the new structure, the old dam will be decommissioned.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: red;"><b>The questions/issues that remain are:</b></span></div>
<div>
-Who will have ownership, control and custody of the new dam</div>
<div>
-What happens to the existing agreements?<br />
-What will be the terms and conditions of water sharing?<br />
-What will be the cost and who will bear the cost?<br />
-What is the timeline for completion of the work?<br />
-Who will be responsible for the construction?<br />
-What will be the impact on the environment, particularly the Periyar Tiger Reserve and wildlife?<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>
<br /></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-82358197149121951232011-12-30T14:38:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:58:14.718-08:00Periyar Irrigation Project Status as in 1907<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Wwkjyl3hHQxcaRN0MKU2yQVdwv8n2Bs5O_NGQg2p_4dzCPrxfajq56x00sFh5V4ZKFyopt1mxoJlFxbauJroy9vyno584mpLMQBN5nWOvR4uzzpEHiYHHa8LEqLBDpWLhFzC_pqNVc5r/s1600/PeriyarDam-during+Construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Wwkjyl3hHQxcaRN0MKU2yQVdwv8n2Bs5O_NGQg2p_4dzCPrxfajq56x00sFh5V4ZKFyopt1mxoJlFxbauJroy9vyno584mpLMQBN5nWOvR4uzzpEHiYHHa8LEqLBDpWLhFzC_pqNVc5r/s320/PeriyarDam-during+Construction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The status of the dam and the Periyar Irrigation Project as obtaining in 1907 (12 years after commissioning of the dam) is fairly described in a letter from E.P.Holton and published in the Scientific American of September 7, 1907.<br />
<br />
It is mentioned in this letter that the project work was closed on October 11, 1895 (when the dam was commissioned) and water was let into the (Vaigai) channels on June 20, 1897. Nearly 50,000 acres were brought under irrigation in the first year, increasing to 150,000 acres (as in 1907), bringing in a net income of 4% on the total investment of $ 3.33 million.<br />
<br />
"The dam is 1241 ft long, 176 ft high above the bed of the river, 144 ft 6 in wide at the base and 12 ft thick at the crest. The front and rear walls are of rubble masonry and the core of surki mortar concrete. The spillway is over a saddle on the right bank, 434 ft long and blasted down to 22 ft below the crest of the dam. On the left bank there is an extension of the main dam, 221 ft in length to close a smaller saddle."<br />
It is also mentioned that there was leakage in the dam which has dropped from one-fourth to one-twelfth of a cubic foot a second. Further it is mentioned that the percentage of lime in the water has decreased considerably after the first two or three years.<br />
<br />
Of special interest is the mention that there is heavy tropical downpour in the area over 300 sq miles of mountainous catchment area with recorded rainfall over 200 inches, with showers of 6 inches at a time, increasing the normal flow of 2000 cusecs to 120,000 cusecs.<br />
<br />
The letter also mentions about the two improvements under consideration then:<br />
1. Generation of electricity utilizing 50,000 HP of the diverted waters.<br />
2. Increasing the storage capacity and making available more of what is stored.<br />
For increased utilization of available storage, it is mentioned that the current water cutting 6000 ft long, 21 ft wide from the lake connecting to the tunnel, is being widened to 35 ft and being lowered to the sill level of the sluice (ie. 106.68 ft above datum) to give an additional 9 ft of gain in available supply.<br />
To increase storage capacity, sluice gates at the spillway are set up to make available 10.2 tmc of live water storage for use.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>
</div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="http://books.google.com/books?id=-wc9AQAAIAAJ&dq=Periyar%20Irrigation&pg=PA159&output=embed" style="border: 0px;" width="500"></iframe></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-20328794363293997932011-12-29T08:28:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:58:34.788-08:00Talking Sense on Mullaperiyar Dam Issues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Ramaswamy R Iyer is Research Professor at the Center for Policy Research, New Delhi. He was formerly Secretary, Water Resources in Government of India. He is an authority on water resources management. He authored the book 'Water: Perspectives, Issues, Concerns (2003)' published by Sage Publications. His detailed profile can be seen at:<br />
<a href="http://www.cprindia.org/users/ramaswamy-r-iyer">http://www.cprindia.org/users/ramaswamy-r-iyer</a><br />
<br />
His article titled '<b>Towards Good Sense on Mullapperiyar</b>' published by Economic and Political Weekly (Vo. 42, No. 1, January 6-12, 2007) analyzed the Mullapperiyar dam issues as obtaining then between Tamilnadu and Kerala in an objective and non-partisan manner. He also proposed possible solutions.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">1. Safety Issues:</span></b><br />
As regards <b>safety issues</b>, he wrote: 'With due respect for experts and subject to correction, we cannot be as confident about a 111-year old dam as we might be about a 20-year old or even a 40-year old dam.... A dam that is over a 100 years old must be presumed to be nearing the end of its useful life. Perhaps it can be strengthened and made to work for a further 10 or 20 years, but we must now begin to consider the phasing out of the project over a period of time. This needs careful planning but the process must begin now'. He does not feel that dam safety is a matter for judicial determination.<br />
<br />
He does not support<b> <span style="color: red;">building a new dam</span></b>. According to him, we must 'rectify a historic blunder and restore the river to its original natural form and flow.'<br />
<br />
As regards <b>raising of the water-level to 142',</b> he asks why not let the status quo remain and let Tamil Nadu examine her water needs and water utilization efficiency.<br />
<br />
He also feels that Tamil Nadu must try to reassure Kerala on the safety of the dam and that safety must be accepted by Kerala. He suggested a joint committee with experts acceptable to both sides to examine the matter.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">2. Kerala's Main Grievance:</span></b><br />
He feels that Kerala's main grievance is '<b>a sense of historic injustice'</b> and that Tamilnadu must remove or reduce that grievance by giving a fair share of the benefits to Kerala.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">3. Action Plan</span></b><br />
His further suggestions and action plan:<br />
1) People of either State must stop demonising the people of the other State<br />
2) Civil society initiatives as in the Cavery case must be tried<br />
3) The two State Governments must talk and refrain from going to Courts. They must come to an amicable settlement of the issues.<br />
4) Reassess the earlier agreements and arrive at settlements that are 'manifestly fair and acceptable to both sides'.<br />
5) Tamilnadu should promote better water management, to get more out of available water, assuming the water level will be 136 ft. At the same time, concerns of Tamil Nadu for getting water for its genuine needs must be addressed.<br />
6) Experts must determine risks and impact of raising the water level<br />
7) The two governments must begin the process of examining the<span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"> eventual phasing out of the Mullaperiyar dam and exploring alternatives.</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
Mr Iyer has reiterated the same ideas in his recent article published by 'the Hindu'<br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2755370.ece?homepage=true">http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2755370.ece?homepage=true</a><br />
<br />
Sensible suggestions. Will both sides put aside emotions and political rhetoric and listen to Prof Ramaswamy R Iyer? First, the current tense situation must be defused and both sides must respect democratic norms and start talking for mutual benefit.<br />
<br />
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-54109821579835286922011-12-21T14:54:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:03:22.226-08:00What the 2006 Supreme Court Judgment in Mullaperiyar Case Did Not Consider<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The Supreme Court in the order dated 27th February, 2006 in Writ Petition 386 of 2001- Mullaperiyar Environmental Protection Forum vs. Union of India and Others, only considered whether the water level of the dam could be raised beyond the present level of 136 feet.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court permitted the water level of the dam to be raised to 142 feet relying on the opinion of the Technical Committee of the Central Water Commission.<br />
<br />
The Court did not pass judgment on<br />
-the validity of the agreements of 1886 and 1970<br />
-recourse to resolution of disputes under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act 1956<br />
though these issues were also raised by the petitioner.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court allowed raising of the water level from 136 feet to 142 feet based on the expert opinion of the Central Water Commission's Technical Committee that strengthening measures were adopted by Tamil Nadu and that the dam was safe. The strengthening measures mentioned are cable anchoring and RCC capping and RCC backing of the rear face of the dam. It was mentioned that several strengthening measures were still pending.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court did not validate the technical opinion from independent sources to conclude that the dam was safe. The Court did not consider threat factors such as age of the dam and deterioration of the core, the high elevation of the dam and the threats arising from floods and earthquakes in a detailed manner. The Court did not analyze the opinion of the Central Water Commission experts to come to its own independent conclusion.<br />
<br />
The Court did not consider why Tamil Nadu wanted the water level to be raised to 142 feet, what the genuine water needs of Tamil Nadu are, whether those requirements were covered by a binding contract and whether those needs could be met by lowering the water level and increasing the intake from the dam's dead storage. It would be seen that there was dead storage of around 7 tmc of water below the water level of 104 feet that is the level of the tunnel diverting the waters.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court judgment was not backed up by sufficient technical data or analysis to come to a justifiable conclusion that the aging dam was safe to hold nearly 13 tmc of water at the 142 feet water level at a 2800 feet elevation from msl. The Supreme Court also did not specify for how many years more this water level or higher water levels could be sustained by a dam that was 110 years old (in 2006).<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court also erred in not fully considering the likely impact of a potential dam failure and whether contingency plans were in place.<br />
<br />
The safety of the dam has to be revisited considering various threat factors and based on risk assessment and disaster impact analysis. It is hoped that the Empowered Committee will critically examine these factors to help the five member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court to pronounce a judgment covering all aspects of the Mullaperiyar dam dispute.</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-1314847456109999892011-12-19T14:44:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:59:12.865-08:00The Economics of Mullaperiyar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Col. John Pennycuick was the architect and engineer responsible for the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam during the eight year period from 1887 to 1895. He presented a paper titled 'Diversion of the Periyar' before the Institute of Civil Engineers on 26th January, 1897. According to this report, the total cost of the Periyar works was Rs. 85 lakhs. Of this Rs. 60 lakhs was spent on the dam and Rs. 25 lakhs on the distribution channel in Madura district. Of the Rs. 60 lakhs spent for the construction of the dam, the cost of the main dam was Rs. 30 lakhs while the watershed cutting and tunnel cost Rs 8 lakhs.<br />
<br />
The report mentions that the main dam contained about 6,000,000 cubic feet of masonry (costing Rs. 3 lakhs).<br />
<br />
Estimated return from irrigation revenue only (for 30 tmc of water), as mentioned, was Rs. 7.2 lakhs annually with net return of 6.5% (after deducting Rs. 40,000 to be paid to Travancore and after deducting other maintenance charges). He had also suggested that the diverted waters could be used for generating approx 60,000 HP of hydro-electric energy. This could provide additional revenue estimated around Rs. 6 lakhs per annum, to be used initially for mining purposes until the villages were ready for electricity.<br />
<br />
In 1956 Tamilnadu constructed the Lower Periyar Power Station with installed capacity of 140 MW utilizing the diverted waters of the Periyar. The Power Station has 4 turbines of 35 MW each that are driven from the diverted Periyar waters fed through the penstock pipes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMJt4hSeq7mSjtE2uaNC22wtyd2YCAWW44g7hTvm1xaHD_Ked4OyCnIyGATdj0mDsSxCtWHJFuFEw04xobxuK_1e3-QNz3e5qLL5W7vI4D1blxxsP9SO2riMcckd1A2_KGGmUL4A-fQGZ/s1600/Periyar+Power+House-Theni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMJt4hSeq7mSjtE2uaNC22wtyd2YCAWW44g7hTvm1xaHD_Ked4OyCnIyGATdj0mDsSxCtWHJFuFEw04xobxuK_1e3-QNz3e5qLL5W7vI4D1blxxsP9SO2riMcckd1A2_KGGmUL4A-fQGZ/s400/Periyar+Power+House-Theni.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The fourth turbine has been upgraded to 42 MW in July 2011. The power generated from Lower Periyar brings in revenue of around Rs. 300 crores to Tamilnadu annually.<br />
<br />
Though originally the 30 tmc of water diverted from Periyar was to irrigate 100,000 acres of land, today 70 tmc to 90 tmc of water is diverted to irrigate 250,000 to 300,000 acres of land in Tamilnadu.<br />
<br />
In 1970 Tamilnadu and Kerala agreed to revise the lease rent to Rs. 2.5 lakhs and to regularize the generation of electricity from the diverted waters and to pay for the generation of electricity (with payment of around Rs. 12 lakhs annually to Kerala). The rates were to be revised after 30 years. Tamil Nadu has not entered into a revised agreement with Kerala, while Tamil Nadu continues to draw more and more water for electric generation, irrigation and drinking water supply from the waters diverted from Mullaperiyar. Tamilnadu wants the water level to be raised to draw more and more water from Mullaperiyar mainly for power generation.<br />
<br />
Tamilnadu is the main beneficiary of the dam, though it has no riparian rights over the waters. But it wants more and more water from an aging and endangered dam. Is Kerala catering to the need or greed of Tamil Nadu? Should not Tamil Nadu reasonably compensate Kerala for the waters diverted from Kerala? At least should not Tamil Nadu care for the safety of the Kerala people and support Kerala building a new dam to replace the old and ailing dam, so that it continues to get the benefits it currently gets from Mullaperiyar?<br />
<br />
-Joseph Ponnoly<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-5859107466674666992011-12-14T11:02:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:08:05.571-08:00Should the water level of Mullaperiyar dam be raised or lowered?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The current water level of the dam is 136 feet and the status quo is to be maintained by orders of the Supreme Court, pending final decision by the Supreme Court. Tamilnadu wants it to be raised to 142 ft and even higher to the full water level of 155 feet, to meet its water supply requirements.<br />
<br />
Kerala wants it to be lowered to 120 feet, citing safety concerns. The dam is an endangered scheduled dam under the Kerala Irrigation and Conservation of Water (Amendment) Act of 2006. The Act fixes 136 feet as the allowable maximum water level for the dam. The provisions of the Kerala dam safety Act have been challenged by Tamilnadu in the Supreme Court. The decision of the Supreme Court concerning this, is awaited.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court judgment of 2006 ruled that the water level could be raised to 142 feet from 136 feet, based on the technical report of Central Water Commission on the safety of the dam. The Supreme Court then did not consider the water requirements of Tamilnadu and whether those requirements could be met at a lower level. The earlier decision of the Supreme Court is now being revisited by the current case pending before the Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
The question is: Should the water level be raised or lowered?<br />
Safety considerations would require that the water stored in the reservoir must be at a minimum level to reduce hydrostatic pressure on the dam. Damages arising from a potential dam collapse would be minimized if the storage level is minimized.<br />
<br />
<b>Can Tamilnadu's water needs be met at a lowered water level of 120 feet or lower without affecting water supply to Tamilnadu?</b><br />
Tamilnadu draws water from the dam from a water level of 104 feet upwards, since the upper level of the tunnel through which water flows down to the Cumbum Valley is 104 feet. The water flows down through the rock-cut tunnel to Forebay dam near Kumili (Errachipalem) in Tamilnadu. 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. <br />
<br />
From Periyar Power Station, water is let out to Suruliyar, a tributary of Vaigai. Suruliyar carries the water to Vaigai Dam, from where water is distributed for irrigation, drinking water supply and industrial use through the network of water channels.<br />
<br />
The water is thus used by Tamilnadu for power generation, irrigation, drinking water supply and industrial use. It is not clear how much water is actually drawn by Tamilnadu to meet these requirements.<br />
Is it not possible for Tamilnadu to draw the water through the tunnels and store them in Forebay dam and also in Vaigai dam for the intended use, without storing the water in Tekkadi reservoir? Or is it a question of 'asking for more and more' without caring for the milking cow's age and safety?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>
</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-67214389990543307192011-12-12T13:50:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:08:56.687-08:00The Problem and the Solution: Kerala vs. Tamilnadu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Deccan Chronicle report of December 12, 2011 'Why Tamilnadu says no and Kerala yes' deals with the Mullaperiyar problem and the solution, giving opposing perspectives. Mr M.K.Parameswaran nair, head of Kerala Special Cell on Mullaperiyar presents the Kerala view point while the opposing view supporting Tamilnadu is presented by Dr. KC Thomas, fomer Chairman of Central Water Commission, Government of India. Further details at:<br />
<a href="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/mullaperiyar-why-tamil-nadu-says-no-and-kerala-yes-323">http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/mullaperiyar-why-tamil-nadu-says-no-and-kerala-yes-323</a><br />
<br />
The opposing viewpoints are reorganized below:<br />
<br />
<b>Arguments by Mr M.K. Parameswaran Nair, head of Kerala Special Cell on Mullaperiyar </b><br />
<b>The Problem:</b><br />
Constructed in 1895-97 when dam technology was in its infancy, (Mullaperiyar) dam suffers from design and construction aspects. Its hearting is lime surkhi concrete with 3.125 parts stone and 1 part mortar. It’s a composite gravity dam, which cannot be classified as a homogenous gravity dam, liable to theoretical analysis using current standards.<br />
<br />
Morvi dam disaster in 1979 created serious concern among engineers and people about inadequacies of spillways of dams’ in India. People are very much apprehensive about the possible occurrence of a cascading disaster like Morvi.<br />
<br />
Continuous leaching may have washed out quantities of cementing material leaving hollows in the structure which may eventually weaken the dam. Dam has become heterogeneous.<br />
<br />
Pre-1986 dam safety analysis values were arbitrarily supplied by TN and unreliable. The inner core density could be much lower than the value of 135 lb/ cft assumed by CWC. Seepages and opened cavities must be naturally more in lower depths below 104 ft, the silt level of the tunnel. No effective curative work had been carried out as the water level in the reservoir cannot go below 104 ft.<br />
<br />
For lowering the spillway crest level from +142 ft to + 136 ft, blasting was done near the already existing dam. Vibrations of such blasts might have adversely affected the strength of the dam.<br />
<br />
Mullaperiyar cannot be analyzed by the standard gravity dam method analysis as it is not a homogenous structure.<br />
<br />
A study by Dr Bhaba and Prof R N Iyengar had indicated that dam is unsafe. Prof Iyengar adopted a value of 0.16 g (considering the Uttarkashi earthquake) and 0.4738 g (considering Koyna earthquake) for values of seismic acceleration considering the possibility of similar earthquakes to happen in Mullaperiyar region.<br />
Dr D.K. Paul of earthquake engineering department IIT Roorkee identified 22 major faults in a radius of 300 km around Mullaperiyar site. Thekkady-Kodaivannalur fault line potentially the most devastating.<br />
The fault is capable of producing an earthquake of 6.5 magnitude on Richter scale within a close distance of 16 km of the dam site.<br />
<br />
<b>Solution</b><br />
The only permanent solution to the long pending vexing problem is construction of a new dam to replace the old unsafe Mullaperiyar dam. Government of Kerala has already put forward this suggestion during the meetings held at New Delhi chaired by the Union Minister for water resources and the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.<br />
<br />
Also the solution of constructing a new dam has been put forth for the first time before the Supreme Court by the Kerala Government while defending the case filed by Tamil Nadu.<br />
<br />
As early as in 1979, the team of engineers headed by the then Chairman CWC had made specific recommendation for constructing a new dam as a permanent solution to the problem.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Dr K.C. Thomas, former chairman of the Central Water Commission:</b><br />
<b>The Problem</b><br />
The fact the dam, constructed in 1895 (infancy technology), is still (2011) standing safely is proof enough that the design technology as also the construction technique then adopted were good and sound. The strengthening done in 1980-81 has made it conform to modern standards. It’s safe against all envisaged eventualities.<br />
<br />
Morvi was manmade. The people in charge failed to open the spillway gate as the inflow of flood kept on raising the reservoir level till it over-topped the dam and breached the earth and abutment. Mullaperiyar is not an earth dam and cannot fail abruptly to cause any downstream damage.<br />
<br />
No cement grouting of surkhi core was done in Mullaperiyar dam and there were no hollows in the dam when CWC chairman visited the dam in 1979.<br />
<br />
How much lower than 135 lb/cb ft and on what authority? Weep-holes and foundation drainage gallery were techniques introduced by US in 1940-60. No dam in India constructed prior to 1930 has a drainage gallery. Seepage if any is measured in catch-water drains downstream of the toe of the dam. Such drains did exist at the toe of Mullaperiyar dam and the seepage was being measured by V-notch gauge when the CWC chairman visited the dam in June 1979<br />
<br />
No massive blasting was done. Even most recent inspection by the chief engineering Kerala PWD (irrigation) has reported no cracks? The 10-m concrete backing has been made integral with old masonry dam with shear keys and concrete grouting; no separation or slippage along the contact phase has been detected. Thickened dam is stronger.<br />
<br />
No dam in the world constructed prior to 1940 had a drainage gallery. Old dams without any drainage provisions are functioning satisfactorily even today.<br />
<br />
What is the justification for Prof Iyengar to apply such abnormal values as 0.16 g and 0.4738 g for stability analysis of the dam when it is not in an earthquake zone? CWC never made any reference to Dr Bhabha or Prof Iyengar to analyze the stability of the dam.<br />
<br />
IIT Roorkee earthquake engineering dept does not have the equipment to determine quake resistance of any proposed cross-section of the dam.<br />
<br />
US geological survey had conducted extensive studies to see whether they can predict in advance when an earthquake will occur of what magnitude and what advance action can be taken to mitigate the damage.<br />
<br />
One should rely on the fact that no dam in the world has failed due to earthquake.<br />
<br />
There has never been a previous report of 22 or any similar number of fault lines on the Mullaperiyar dam. If they do actually exist, the dam should have received many shocks in the last 116 years and produced some damage, however small or superficial.<br />
<br />
<b>On the Solution : Constructing a New Dam</b><br />
If the Kerala Government decides that the construction of a new dam is the only permanent solution to this long pending vexing problem, who is to approve this proposition and who is to execute it at whose cost etc. In fact it is a vexing problem to Kerala only. Tamil Nadu does not see any problem. They are keen to preserve the existing dam.<br />
<br />
The Chairman CWC did not make any recommendation for constructing a new dam. In fact he refused to accommodate this demand. He said that the existing dam was safe as it was but would recommend strengthening it to modern standards to totally remove any apprehensions of its failure.</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-83157830436411220212011-12-11T19:44:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:06:32.323-08:00Irreparable structural damages to Mullaperiyar dam or is it an 11 year old new and safe dam?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Central Soil and Materials Research Station (<a href="http://mowr.gov.in/writereaddata/linkimages/anu123112470069.pdf">http://mowr.gov.in/writereaddata/linkimages/anu123112470069.pdf</a>) , on directions from the Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court, found severe damages to the masonry structure of Mullaperiyar dam. They used a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) for the underwater inspection on the upstream face of the dam.<br />
<a href="http://twitpic.com/48zs68" title="see the pic of ROV to be used for imaging the upstream face o... on Twitpic"><img alt="see the pic of ROV to be used for imaging the upstream face o... on Twitpic" height="150" src="http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/48zs68.png" width="150" /></a>
<br />
Picture of ROV used for imaging the front face of the dam<br />
(Courtesy: James Wilson)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOJ89TCdflRguW2ITxKSKnVloD88uf2s8b9E-DKanrAi4gWDr20FNvjhAG573FCV5dLq_GSJTmiRYKihFCDSjeZLkmNW-c4rWsaQgoxeaXEvBb223g9pjoTdM7Dl_vXMUT_UkuDNk-Aeg/s1600/Dam+Inspection+ROV-Dec+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOJ89TCdflRguW2ITxKSKnVloD88uf2s8b9E-DKanrAi4gWDr20FNvjhAG573FCV5dLq_GSJTmiRYKihFCDSjeZLkmNW-c4rWsaQgoxeaXEvBb223g9pjoTdM7Dl_vXMUT_UkuDNk-Aeg/s400/Dam+Inspection+ROV-Dec+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Potholes, crevices and loosened rubble were found in the masonry structure of the dam between 95 and 106 feet from the base of the dam.<br />
Irreparable deterioration was noticed in all 34 sections of the dam resulting from erosion of lime surki mortar from the rubble joints. Some of the damage was caused by mistakes in the strengthening works carried out by Tamil Nadu since 1979, based on the recommendations of the Central Water Commission, according to M. Sasidharan, retired engineer and Kerala's observer during the scanning.<br />
Details at:<br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article2694645.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article2694645.ece</a><br />
<br />
This finding comes in the wake of Tamil Nadu's plea that the dam has been totally retrofitted during the period 1981 to 2000 with cable anchoring and RCC backing and that it is a new dam replacing the 116 year old dam and is to be considered 11 years old only, as claimed by Tamil Nadu PWD Engineer S. Suthanthira Amalraj. This was reported by 'the Hindu' at:<br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article2697623.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article2697623.ece</a><br />
<br />
In the mean time Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced that a dam break analysis is awaited from IIT Roorkie, with whom the Kerala Government has signed an MOU for the analysis.<br />
<br />
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-6699423816748788702011-12-09T20:20:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:09:20.989-08:00Should Mullaperiyar Dam be under Central Government control?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The Bharathiya Krishak Samaj in its meeting at Tiruchi on Dec 9, 2011, has called upon the Central Government to bring the Mullaperiyar dam and sharing of its waters, under Central Govt's control. D Gurusamy, President of BKS has requested a new Central law invoking Article 262 of the Constitution of India.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/article2700973.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/article2700973.ece</a><br />
<br />
If sharing of water is considered an inter-State dispute, though the river and dam are located within Kerala State only, why can't a Tribunal be set up under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956?<br />
<br />
Reference:<br />
Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956<br />
<a href="http://mowr.gov.in/index3.asp?subsublinkid=377&langid=1&sslid=385">http://mowr.gov.in/index3.asp?subsublinkid=377&langid=1&sslid=385</a><br />
<br />
<br />
-jp</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-1961325114379333102011-12-09T08:34:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:07:03.925-08:00Can Tamilnadu and Kerala publish a 'State of the Mullaperiyar Dam Report'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tamilnadu and Kerala will have to publish a 'State of the Dam Report'.<br />
Until then, we are left to conclude that the state of the dam is as given in the photos below:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnSlvXZfxvxHF4BdiTbECS1NNoqUHObeDxc0vjZ9RiP15U5vo8nvmQjNp-dfj2D3hAlil2I3IizgH5pXTfpeOxXA6njadtW4cPvSCZ-cs1uke5diLsCKkTIJl1H1sQ33HlISuhckf81Hb/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+Cable+Anchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnSlvXZfxvxHF4BdiTbECS1NNoqUHObeDxc0vjZ9RiP15U5vo8nvmQjNp-dfj2D3hAlil2I3IizgH5pXTfpeOxXA6njadtW4cPvSCZ-cs1uke5diLsCKkTIJl1H1sQ33HlISuhckf81Hb/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+Cable+Anchor.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Cable Anchoring used for strengthening the main dam</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
DETERIORATING CONDITION OF THE DAM</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmLF9bxbaDO8rrmFKOKV4cF1hyphenhyphenE32qZDgg2FZ4X68n2OLzzC12uFA0_6MxFqRkFv-648GkEMfOL8OjajRGnkEToc7QOHr21yJwimBWg0cN5buGPaZVc77l1IlPxYAiKIpJNGFtNVjQvX3/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+concrete+plaster+cracks+exposing+the+ruble+and+grouting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmLF9bxbaDO8rrmFKOKV4cF1hyphenhyphenE32qZDgg2FZ4X68n2OLzzC12uFA0_6MxFqRkFv-648GkEMfOL8OjajRGnkEToc7QOHr21yJwimBWg0cN5buGPaZVc77l1IlPxYAiKIpJNGFtNVjQvX3/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+concrete+plaster+cracks+exposing+the+ruble+and+grouting.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deterioration of the dam wall exposing the rubble masonry and lime surkhi mortar</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxlBS4NEYH6GF0KVIolucUuSzaAaETGykn58qrgMBo5zATjktw0zf5n4iQCNnUzoQUO0_8Ra70iImGPJ9DwqI0kK2sc9X1xXM8zRKdNsY8pW84mUZekjPLob_r7-3Qj_tqAgEGhw33Ha7/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxlBS4NEYH6GF0KVIolucUuSzaAaETGykn58qrgMBo5zATjktw0zf5n4iQCNnUzoQUO0_8Ra70iImGPJ9DwqI0kK2sc9X1xXM8zRKdNsY8pW84mUZekjPLob_r7-3Qj_tqAgEGhw33Ha7/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cracks and deterioration of the wall of the main dam</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf5NZLtPCwYTwsGXgo1FQI-5OGfpahn_tnxen_By2_ITFaQ8BG7DrTuxy5Dcb9B96UvLfOG25hqu2VIPGlWPOeMajVwx_pVsms2s_fHds5g-lKXduYPCDiCPCoN3lcwkrgl5-6fwOenBv/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks+2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf5NZLtPCwYTwsGXgo1FQI-5OGfpahn_tnxen_By2_ITFaQ8BG7DrTuxy5Dcb9B96UvLfOG25hqu2VIPGlWPOeMajVwx_pVsms2s_fHds5g-lKXduYPCDiCPCoN3lcwkrgl5-6fwOenBv/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks+2+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cracks and holes in the wall of the main dam</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHv0oihrCax2KzHgBNr0UuwP-jO5VNOn31-vBk3JwuQpMfo-ILb0fjngO8jvUocmlqMC4sD_aF-8pi4jkJiF5AeNCSpBj4l7F3fzajcTpJj8OgB5NsFUO7-WY7UvQEQxxzl7wsUA0gOV_/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks+3+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHv0oihrCax2KzHgBNr0UuwP-jO5VNOn31-vBk3JwuQpMfo-ILb0fjngO8jvUocmlqMC4sD_aF-8pi4jkJiF5AeNCSpBj4l7F3fzajcTpJj8OgB5NsFUO7-WY7UvQEQxxzl7wsUA0gOV_/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks+3+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deteriorating concrete plaster</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uIbq6iuYBvjf6fJBsWpDK-6TfyI_QDF5asGDugNE7OQD8VhCZ_04A2klmI9vpYz4Q9YL3Gk7UB11nDIUw4wqCB4vyv295FlTu1xfVNnZCSUzPZQQ6KDsqURqs7Qnuc_MljA9DEEXm_wZ/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uIbq6iuYBvjf6fJBsWpDK-6TfyI_QDF5asGDugNE7OQD8VhCZ_04A2klmI9vpYz4Q9YL3Gk7UB11nDIUw4wqCB4vyv295FlTu1xfVNnZCSUzPZQQ6KDsqURqs7Qnuc_MljA9DEEXm_wZ/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+cracks+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deteriorating dam wall</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCNd3ZuUkdVtZH40CxnmqHDwc_ogEXOUbqZf7VNcpvLon5tuYzkceHV0vQDjnoBTyi1bGwu5zXXdSF3eOcZmtE9gJKvsPXemGbwCUKIwrTHA0XhVM1kT7WNJCDIYDBVjC17Hd8x8RQw_g/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+deteriorated+state+of+the+stone+ruble+masonry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCNd3ZuUkdVtZH40CxnmqHDwc_ogEXOUbqZf7VNcpvLon5tuYzkceHV0vQDjnoBTyi1bGwu5zXXdSF3eOcZmtE9gJKvsPXemGbwCUKIwrTHA0XhVM1kT7WNJCDIYDBVjC17Hd8x8RQw_g/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+deteriorated+state+of+the+stone+ruble+masonry.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cracks in the wall of the main dam</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADTG864ugumInlW77hkUhgkRJ5G7nD9WOUm0LrF0m53b8TKgY3yGFeCj9PkOZxIGx0infOLI8yyy33BMcBcQJhF6tZCtCbUMzL368VshuYtMBtgNDw-zVWMHLbyUe8xO4rMtqFzQmisPi/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+exposed+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADTG864ugumInlW77hkUhgkRJ5G7nD9WOUm0LrF0m53b8TKgY3yGFeCj9PkOZxIGx0infOLI8yyy33BMcBcQJhF6tZCtCbUMzL368VshuYtMBtgNDw-zVWMHLbyUe8xO4rMtqFzQmisPi/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+exposed+wall.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deteriorating concrete plaster exposing the rubble masonry</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmJQBLLiBA3a9pN4gVzvnLEwKGV7Hbhw2HwBb2O4jfzEK0NvjQ_19ehSeftg54FSK5RzngJHTssmVSfqNKOkeuSb7yDuaJc5f3V1B2b-1JzOWNV3i6KSInvqtBq_aEQC1G65mcj-zzmaM/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+gallery+showing+cracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmJQBLLiBA3a9pN4gVzvnLEwKGV7Hbhw2HwBb2O4jfzEK0NvjQ_19ehSeftg54FSK5RzngJHTssmVSfqNKOkeuSb7yDuaJc5f3V1B2b-1JzOWNV3i6KSInvqtBq_aEQC1G65mcj-zzmaM/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+gallery+showing+cracks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gallery exposing leaks and cracks in the main dam's wall</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqgSh5xhvyhbIevvcUnJC52dh0QBp-RaaHcDN4Gf3FuJa0QxgDgnZmD0Vt7xR1gDkSHTID4Dyb6Hh_11lSNUmReTxPouVZzZwJlbGOjEGpAvDT-zqqcTfSdO0TT1_eH_yL4UppunRWQOn/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+Gallery+showing+water+seepage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqgSh5xhvyhbIevvcUnJC52dh0QBp-RaaHcDN4Gf3FuJa0QxgDgnZmD0Vt7xR1gDkSHTID4Dyb6Hh_11lSNUmReTxPouVZzZwJlbGOjEGpAvDT-zqqcTfSdO0TT1_eH_yL4UppunRWQOn/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+Gallery+showing+water+seepage.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Water seepage collected in the gallery</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6cpMUiHiSvTCDxSfexHVnHupBgSx9cqx5YSukw_DbGbIgAEE6L7FjhM12F7ghDCK2pqxQ44MsqFzbGjD2c2HVSiozBhE9Qoh1cLfhcBjy8g1JlpAZSxTYK16yN5zwYyI2QGTLlp53bbj/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+Gallery+with+water+leaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6cpMUiHiSvTCDxSfexHVnHupBgSx9cqx5YSukw_DbGbIgAEE6L7FjhM12F7ghDCK2pqxQ44MsqFzbGjD2c2HVSiozBhE9Qoh1cLfhcBjy8g1JlpAZSxTYK16yN5zwYyI2QGTLlp53bbj/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam-+Gallery+with+water+leaks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gallery view with leaks and cracks in the wall</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAYelQ9ug97-k7kMKT_lfuP3c8XyIn7DHmglh1gEv77lsLWNLL0B2EwEXSAbiwlmV8z-GPvBIHsDWtxXoeoTHOYclo6tQhZ-OsqU4medmd8ue87xJlyxmh7PHOTZcK2bgQYzGHBcnDrKD/s1600/MPeriyar-+ruble+masonry+and+plaster+exposed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAYelQ9ug97-k7kMKT_lfuP3c8XyIn7DHmglh1gEv77lsLWNLL0B2EwEXSAbiwlmV8z-GPvBIHsDWtxXoeoTHOYclo6tQhZ-OsqU4medmd8ue87xJlyxmh7PHOTZcK2bgQYzGHBcnDrKD/s1600/MPeriyar-+ruble+masonry+and+plaster+exposed.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cracks in the wall and deterioration of concrete plastering</div>
<br /></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-36057595666113270172011-12-09T08:31:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:09:40.674-08:00Bio Diversity at Mullaperiyar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div>
BIO-DIVERSITY</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNTpIrztXs3lyKc54gXZPyQ1JWi51wKXHc2S867mDj8gjNU5ePSWVZPp1_-E7_8ewJIGeLoKsyOIy8HNEKvyjiFeamu0mUm0P87tagh9yvq7RSuaKrb1ZQPGLyzEC8ayb7TVGMVjIt7U0/s1600/MPeriyar-Periyar+Tiger+Reserve+behind+the+dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNTpIrztXs3lyKc54gXZPyQ1JWi51wKXHc2S867mDj8gjNU5ePSWVZPp1_-E7_8ewJIGeLoKsyOIy8HNEKvyjiFeamu0mUm0P87tagh9yvq7RSuaKrb1ZQPGLyzEC8ayb7TVGMVjIt7U0/s1600/MPeriyar-Periyar+Tiger+Reserve+behind+the+dam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Tiger Reserve behind the Dam</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkEMlBBv1NhdOvHYEB9TW6ymRVFOH7fNP6s9CJ6IH9JM1TcAQRFWp9ige-5wrpQ0NtwaCSUKOzNtqUTGYYR8P_YwFqqdiUqcez5EiY8IlruQqf5vkQmYZHWisZqAbgRfrpGqXlFRfgIBh/s1600/MPeriyar-Wild+Elephants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkEMlBBv1NhdOvHYEB9TW6ymRVFOH7fNP6s9CJ6IH9JM1TcAQRFWp9ige-5wrpQ0NtwaCSUKOzNtqUTGYYR8P_YwFqqdiUqcez5EiY8IlruQqf5vkQmYZHWisZqAbgRfrpGqXlFRfgIBh/s1600/MPeriyar-Wild+Elephants.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Wild Elephants</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd0AyfM4z8ZLJlKS5tBoasfnuydqqVUqnnLBE9ZzLoIEY9xB0-Vway5_mWmbqWqkqVJmPHR3Y3VRCs5f-4hTCOzGCEba5bOefJmF0NaTAFoGPkE2-D_g2eCH50LzvMUX8r6mrH5nJHGbO/s1600/MPeriyar-Wild+Elephants+near+the+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd0AyfM4z8ZLJlKS5tBoasfnuydqqVUqnnLBE9ZzLoIEY9xB0-Vway5_mWmbqWqkqVJmPHR3Y3VRCs5f-4hTCOzGCEba5bOefJmF0NaTAFoGPkE2-D_g2eCH50LzvMUX8r6mrH5nJHGbO/s1600/MPeriyar-Wild+Elephants+near+the+Dam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wild elephants could be behind you</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIPMGSagugk-YfjhYfTaplpvy2NISsiRM0eeE_WmiF7Eybsys53LxZTRStWt2-c7M1MpTvzrOeE0gQFaQ2P5Ap0AeUEONA1QEgem6uO2CWLBWb0nPmFUobEZu1x_vJHHAy0g6QExkso2c/s1600/MPeriyar2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIPMGSagugk-YfjhYfTaplpvy2NISsiRM0eeE_WmiF7Eybsys53LxZTRStWt2-c7M1MpTvzrOeE0gQFaQ2P5Ap0AeUEONA1QEgem6uO2CWLBWb0nPmFUobEZu1x_vJHHAy0g6QExkso2c/s1600/MPeriyar2+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Boat ride on the Thekkadi reservoir flanked by thick equatorial forests where elephants, tigers, wild buffaloes, deer, langurs etc live</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnwUpk8387MAWVSkfy1CqxZBn7sERZQ-YW4am5RH6Tdv3RfB1Rc8wBoad24WWyGyrCbidHISnfOqjdK1xpiiDsQCgsmnvu9uc5ElnlOefPhrRMq_5ztOZua4lLouvk0hTF97iqkUk4i4_/s1600/MPeriyar3-wild+buffaloes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnwUpk8387MAWVSkfy1CqxZBn7sERZQ-YW4am5RH6Tdv3RfB1Rc8wBoad24WWyGyrCbidHISnfOqjdK1xpiiDsQCgsmnvu9uc5ElnlOefPhrRMq_5ztOZua4lLouvk0hTF97iqkUk4i4_/s1600/MPeriyar3-wild+buffaloes.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A herd of wild buffaloes</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMSeVrELJ_c-617pla8LId92lQtABgVvzK4gZToN3Sm7iRbBcQBAzA5rDpCtSCj-3jxnjPTuWgndZQl229n92wjEVpbaEci8AYuS-mKdZi3wW8j0us0o5zk4bIUtULiRYcx9eUhGMiRxo/s1600/MPeriyar+-+Wild+Elephants+near+the+dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMSeVrELJ_c-617pla8LId92lQtABgVvzK4gZToN3Sm7iRbBcQBAzA5rDpCtSCj-3jxnjPTuWgndZQl229n92wjEVpbaEci8AYuS-mKdZi3wW8j0us0o5zk4bIUtULiRYcx9eUhGMiRxo/s1600/MPeriyar+-+Wild+Elephants+near+the+dam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wild buffaloes in the water flowing out of the baby dam</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-75088828567885841902011-12-08T19:46:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:03:36.379-08:00Views of Mullaperiyar Dam and Reservoir<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Gv7BbIoUkkZ68adNojGyQpBEIU6xCzK0JS2sGYdGhrCn0KpuI1ioHHFFnT6yu8ii2G4S7D6yqdySSzd504xwEOvooCPyUQwWrkbXgnPbtAPhYoDok2luiRPo7DgpCUyDbPi3v-CvWUKe/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam+Sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Gv7BbIoUkkZ68adNojGyQpBEIU6xCzK0JS2sGYdGhrCn0KpuI1ioHHFFnT6yu8ii2G4S7D6yqdySSzd504xwEOvooCPyUQwWrkbXgnPbtAPhYoDok2luiRPo7DgpCUyDbPi3v-CvWUKe/s1600/MPeriyar+Dam+Sketch.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Schematic of the dam showing</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1. Spillway 2. Main Dam 3. Sand Dam 4. Baby Dam 5. Periyar Lake 6. Downstream area</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsEceGn2hcvmIlZS4CoXRYw2mPjWxQRRBzeVHJMerszXgpDGPgomli2boCFJ6lCTNycZ0uMB6SZO-HDA7cahhyphenhyphen0CnJZb0qKJNfsw9T0SeAZINsQLgtoWiYBywuhS4xG_3hHW1Gx4dTeTE/s1600/MPeriyar1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsEceGn2hcvmIlZS4CoXRYw2mPjWxQRRBzeVHJMerszXgpDGPgomli2boCFJ6lCTNycZ0uMB6SZO-HDA7cahhyphenhyphen0CnJZb0qKJNfsw9T0SeAZINsQLgtoWiYBywuhS4xG_3hHW1Gx4dTeTE/s1600/MPeriyar1+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Distant view of the Mullaperiyar Dam with the spillway on the left and the main dam to the right of the spillway</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjSYsl_w9XV0tsLHbARiuPz0CYgj1GKCqDz_fQV0AqXAZNqLPz49VFurPnGbYZu1KQK6t61MW3e7IPzaNgseiB3YdCK-pFxW7GXgxYEl24kprXnc_KR9VsCksL6m6kX8_nYCn5g_bLf21/s1600/MPeriyar+-Main+Dam-+water+level+at+115+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjSYsl_w9XV0tsLHbARiuPz0CYgj1GKCqDz_fQV0AqXAZNqLPz49VFurPnGbYZu1KQK6t61MW3e7IPzaNgseiB3YdCK-pFxW7GXgxYEl24kprXnc_KR9VsCksL6m6kX8_nYCn5g_bLf21/s1600/MPeriyar+-Main+Dam-+water+level+at+115+feet.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Main Dam</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQgBf3-Rv0-0prLmkPnwMWVpQDYxWUCMQ0VzRNoQwieQrKJDesrSOWB9_1woN-WJuXkxckpx5uo4NlEDQzRJGhIdmG5lmHcgZCX7aXUGCLrZvcaIvsv3ciCR9m333d7-S2SC4ODK4LYCj/s1600/MPeriyar-+Spillway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQgBf3-Rv0-0prLmkPnwMWVpQDYxWUCMQ0VzRNoQwieQrKJDesrSOWB9_1woN-WJuXkxckpx5uo4NlEDQzRJGhIdmG5lmHcgZCX7aXUGCLrZvcaIvsv3ciCR9m333d7-S2SC4ODK4LYCj/s1600/MPeriyar-+Spillway.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spillway</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO6oBWPwTecZAktmoaVqn6HWCtU6YWQ1-fALDMfpZGVEq5_YW6l8xkig8Pzl2J1Y9hghoEmrx4HXZ6mmiQ6vXNPGqCv4_GKyTyVSEPaTHjVh-G6I0Wr5LbwSwRwn4i1C1rHpVwIMg1QYi/s1600/MPeriyar-Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO6oBWPwTecZAktmoaVqn6HWCtU6YWQ1-fALDMfpZGVEq5_YW6l8xkig8Pzl2J1Y9hghoEmrx4HXZ6mmiQ6vXNPGqCv4_GKyTyVSEPaTHjVh-G6I0Wr5LbwSwRwn4i1C1rHpVwIMg1QYi/s1600/MPeriyar-Dam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Main Dam on the left and Spillway on the right</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd923c3dnYuJdXSt3TRoh0GoqZKxTtlRAjlj2ZcWupURyf5EbtNeXqxZVbW7Uhc0w7NlKig1sYvb6t0yF0xzbmOiPYbXxNOz5hgI4M2Ch_JyyWIke-nRITq6RWOjxwmhQi2X8SfytSaHeQ/s1600/MPeriyar-Dam-2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd923c3dnYuJdXSt3TRoh0GoqZKxTtlRAjlj2ZcWupURyf5EbtNeXqxZVbW7Uhc0w7NlKig1sYvb6t0yF0xzbmOiPYbXxNOz5hgI4M2Ch_JyyWIke-nRITq6RWOjxwmhQi2X8SfytSaHeQ/s1600/MPeriyar-Dam-2+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Main Dam</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmQWf6TEW4unL9rK_ogmRkL9_2WDu59XwcxJt6IRTk5cU7IEPBjgwT-e9_T2m0nffOtR8u8AbKXgTGAwRXdq1vvWYLtutsSR-vmoOBbBfHkOfm1hTEoD6YoPiwjI8JZ3Z4mFFXQ8IG2Ja/s1600/MPeriyar-Lake+Palace-Thekkadi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmQWf6TEW4unL9rK_ogmRkL9_2WDu59XwcxJt6IRTk5cU7IEPBjgwT-e9_T2m0nffOtR8u8AbKXgTGAwRXdq1vvWYLtutsSR-vmoOBbBfHkOfm1hTEoD6YoPiwjI8JZ3Z4mFFXQ8IG2Ja/s1600/MPeriyar-Lake+Palace-Thekkadi.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Lake Palace on the Thekkadi Reservoir (formerly the summer resort of the Maharajah of Travancore)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD73wvc8VIZ_zFeoioT-OLOSAgryzC0v-k75ltDExCdxUnuKGSNcE5qDpYU8uyX3b-oDaqlDalY0G4ItsyIIs6RSxmEjYezP53i_3o0T3W_CEa_AVx3nr_NHBzPaTG8p6FyS2dUxVZrM3/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD73wvc8VIZ_zFeoioT-OLOSAgryzC0v-k75ltDExCdxUnuKGSNcE5qDpYU8uyX3b-oDaqlDalY0G4ItsyIIs6RSxmEjYezP53i_3o0T3W_CEa_AVx3nr_NHBzPaTG8p6FyS2dUxVZrM3/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam.jpg" /></a></div>
Main Dam<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFbLUW7cCfW6TAU5SVsi4dtIoKHR9DDjWIZjhYe2csAAz4hCKQFZ_0pKEo95IQpSZKUWEoXJsYnGaRUMs87D6newgkbodmJ5DJL90y9HaBZbLij5Ub8404p_0Hh0cnxeVrzlMDcu5T8gn/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFbLUW7cCfW6TAU5SVsi4dtIoKHR9DDjWIZjhYe2csAAz4hCKQFZ_0pKEo95IQpSZKUWEoXJsYnGaRUMs87D6newgkbodmJ5DJL90y9HaBZbLij5Ub8404p_0Hh0cnxeVrzlMDcu5T8gn/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Main Dam</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiluV4MiQe32_QDyfP3e07CQECmaitN3uRZUupY7odP-rhSinYZ3KEaGOI4hipZEhNkeN3z8d96Q28PKa5Rqhm6ErqfFGHUN-zFrqsdgxv7lC08h0d_mV3vIz2Zi3jciIvBCaOwBEkPEl/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiluV4MiQe32_QDyfP3e07CQECmaitN3uRZUupY7odP-rhSinYZ3KEaGOI4hipZEhNkeN3z8d96Q28PKa5Rqhm6ErqfFGHUN-zFrqsdgxv7lC08h0d_mV3vIz2Zi3jciIvBCaOwBEkPEl/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Main Dam</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWrPvRbpjhgn8tvkzyuOwfpePYDuh44S_Rd9zp-RaGWiQlliFJKfafzxjhGT-sLxesUUGu0kRRIusV8-fmUSStnMbhVHgxh8p9uRuGr8GxoPwHVT8YKjllu8zjqsDWdUwoAxXsHBeHIN0/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWrPvRbpjhgn8tvkzyuOwfpePYDuh44S_Rd9zp-RaGWiQlliFJKfafzxjhGT-sLxesUUGu0kRRIusV8-fmUSStnMbhVHgxh8p9uRuGr8GxoPwHVT8YKjllu8zjqsDWdUwoAxXsHBeHIN0/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Main Dam and Boat landing</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXSHrG2NGgjTpE9H6F9Nw7_Xh_nUuZR1-RvAaYHwN4DuxHWwDoJq7efULfaGAEKfU9US1rvBEZHQ6XjJqtBTHvcoAmHkNLNef91Pkn_dWucNLvuzxUamIQqgIA97LXUv6YJkPxB7lYpqZ/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+6-backside+with+entrance+to+the+gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXSHrG2NGgjTpE9H6F9Nw7_Xh_nUuZR1-RvAaYHwN4DuxHWwDoJq7efULfaGAEKfU9US1rvBEZHQ6XjJqtBTHvcoAmHkNLNef91Pkn_dWucNLvuzxUamIQqgIA97LXUv6YJkPxB7lYpqZ/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam+6-backside+with+entrance+to+the+gallery.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Backside of the Main Dam with entrance to the gallery</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmWhn4nW_hfCqwD4rTVdI-etwSGte8vLq_Nr7Uune4jsoxa6UmvP8YSedtqgSSHO7PKrKy52Wv4CHMsPSrYkEx39ND51XXQcR9rJqd6-Ex0uuvVmsuWY203Ag6bYfuWMw2iImx2zMqoy_/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam-backside1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmWhn4nW_hfCqwD4rTVdI-etwSGte8vLq_Nr7Uune4jsoxa6UmvP8YSedtqgSSHO7PKrKy52Wv4CHMsPSrYkEx39ND51XXQcR9rJqd6-Ex0uuvVmsuWY203Ag6bYfuWMw2iImx2zMqoy_/s1600/MPeriyar-Main+Dam-backside1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Backside of the main dam</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-XSuIQH91oDZVHys0A-zE1mDeFia5tFdRLo19jPDLd4hx2oUom_stEgTghEpcEgmCCWCXBeyOaejNkWKbhk9CAvpFJPUIddYoPsrgCXL7dGSydoE3GnXRN3r6uhyphenhyphenPVILjYMwWeyC6MKJ/s1600/MPeriyar-+Sand+Dam+between+Main+Dam+and+Baby+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-XSuIQH91oDZVHys0A-zE1mDeFia5tFdRLo19jPDLd4hx2oUom_stEgTghEpcEgmCCWCXBeyOaejNkWKbhk9CAvpFJPUIddYoPsrgCXL7dGSydoE3GnXRN3r6uhyphenhyphenPVILjYMwWeyC6MKJ/s1600/MPeriyar-+Sand+Dam+between+Main+Dam+and+Baby+Dam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sand Dam between Main Dam and Baby Dam</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejl8aStR0vw5K8-lHUyNB2fxucT52-AR5xLVI2n8r9R1iKkhJOIHZKtknz3p_6aDAnkNKG-nvSzW-3btK_EKpZzQKZev5tT4Q10oxX7Sb5VohUNERCE79_wFBNjnSXnWITmNsdBQvXkXT/s1600/MPeriyar-+Baby+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejl8aStR0vw5K8-lHUyNB2fxucT52-AR5xLVI2n8r9R1iKkhJOIHZKtknz3p_6aDAnkNKG-nvSzW-3btK_EKpZzQKZev5tT4Q10oxX7Sb5VohUNERCE79_wFBNjnSXnWITmNsdBQvXkXT/s1600/MPeriyar-+Baby+Dam.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The baby dam</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-74542233712267516992011-12-08T08:53:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:03:59.640-08:00Dam Safety Threat Factors for Mullaperiyar Dam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Risk /Threat Factors</b><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Age of the dam</span></b>: The dam is 116 years old as of 2011. It has outlived its expected life span of 50 years. Strengthening the existing dam has its limitations and may not prove to be effective in the event of a disaster as seen in the Morvi Dam disaster of 1979.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Elevation of the dam</b>:</span> The dam is situated approx. 3000 ft above msl and holds 15 tmc of water at full capacity (at 155 feet water level). The gravitational potential energy of the dam under these conditions is 3000 million joules. The height of the water column is 155 feet at full capacity and 1200 ft length at the crest. The damage that such a water mass can cause, in the event of a dam failure, is disastrous.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Structural weaknesses:</span></b> The dam was constructed using stone ruble masonry with lime mortar grouting following prevailing 19th century construction techniques that have now become archaic. Seepage and leaks from the dam have caused concern. Structural weaknesses of the foundation and weaknesses of the lime-surkhi ruble masonry core of the dam, need to be assessed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Earthquakes</span>:</b> The dam is situated in a seismically active zone. An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale occurred on June 7, 1988 with maximum damage in Nedumkandam and Kallar (within 20 kms of the dam). Several earthquake tremors have occurred in the area in recent times. These could be reservoir-induced seismicity, requiring further studies according to experts. CESS (Centre for Earth Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram), IIT Roorkee and IISc (Indian Institute of Science) Bengaluru, have reported that the dam cannot withstand earthquakes of magnitude above 6 point on the Richter scale.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Floods and Landslides:</span></b> Global warming and changing weather patterns leading to torrential rains and flooding can lead to overflow and collapse of the dam. Determination of the Probable Maximum Flood and Probable Maximum Precipitation parameters for the dam, considering current hydrological, meteorological and seismic data, is important to ensure dam safety.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Safety maintenance and safety monitoring of the dam</span></b>: Continuous safety monitoring is required to prevent disasters and to detect dam failure. Disaster Management schemes have to be in place to contain damages resulting from dam failure.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Only a formal risk assessment can identify all the threat factors and the probability of threat events happening. Similarly a disaster impact analysis would be required to determine the impact of a dam failure.<br />
<br />
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-39504845315324380452011-12-07T18:24:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:04:29.003-08:00Dam Breach Parameters - Technical References<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
US Bureau of Reclamation Dam Safety Office Publication titled 'Prediction of Embankment Dam Breach Parameters', published in July 1998 can be seen at:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/hydraulics_lab/pubs/DSO/DSO-98-004.pdf">http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/hydraulics_lab/pubs/DSO/DSO-98-004.pdf</a><br />
<br />
This publication deals with dam break analysis and prediction of water flow process and overflow during extreme floods and routing of the flow after the dam breach.<br />
This research report contains relevant literature review and also deals with case studies of dam failures with relevant data. The prediction parameters include prediction of peak outflows and dam breach prediction models.<br />
<br />
The report focuses on 'embankment' dams. But the flood flow parameters are equally applicable to gravity dams.<br />
<br />
Of particular interest to Mullaperiyar Dam would be the various tools currently available for analyzing and predicting dam failures listed on page 5 of the report. The mostly widely used ones are:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>National Weather Service (NWS) Dam-Break Flood Forecasting Model (DAMBRK) (most widely used) and its successor FLDWAV</li>
<li>The US Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center Flood Hydrograph Package HEC 1</li>
<li>NWS Simplified Dam-Break Forecasting Model SMPDBK.</li>
</ul>
<br />
It is suggested in the report that SMPDBK can be used as a screening tool and DAMBRK for more detailed analyses.<br />
<br />
Analysis of the routing of the dam-break flood is particularly important to determine the post-break impact.<br />
NWS BREACH model can be used to simulate the breach formation process in detail.<br />
<br />
This report can guide the Engineers in analyzing and forecasting dam break parameters for Mullaperiyar dam. They can use simulation software such as Flow3D or OpenFOAM to simulate the water flow within the reservoir and downstream.<br />
-JP<br />
<br /></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-74700537049329017792011-12-07T09:18:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:05:01.503-08:00Should we solve Mullaperiyar disputes through fist-fights and street violence?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Should Tamils and Keralites resort to fist-fights and violence to solve the 30 year old or probably 116 year old dispute over Mullaperiyar, as in medieval times?<br />
<br />
Or should they as civilized persons, and as bretheren sharing a common culture and legacy, try to identify the various legal, technical and political issues in this dispute and try to explore options to resolve them, to the mutual satisfaction of the people on the west and east of the Western Ghats?<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There are various legal issues pending resolution before the Supreme Court and before the High Court of Kerala. The law must take its course but legal decisions must be expedited, because disasters do not wait for anyone.</li>
<li>Safety issues have been raised by Kerala with the Kerala Government demanding construction of a new dam to resolve safety issues. Technically competent persons must identify the risks and come forward with various options to mitigate the safety concerns. Independent or mutually agreeable risk assessment, risk management options and disaster impact analysis and risk/disaster management plans, are all required in this scenario to determine whether decommissioning the existing dam and building a new dam would be the only option. Tamilnadu engineers must provide data to satisfy Kerala engineers that the dam's safety measures are in place to avert a disaster.</li>
<li>All poltical protests and violence must stop. Tamils need the Malayali shops, businessmen, cine stars and employees in Chennai and elsewhere. Malayalees need Tamilian businessmen and industrialists, Tamil cinemas and Tamil stars and Tamil labor in Kerala. </li>
<li>There must be assurance that Tamilnadu will get water for irrigation, drinking and for power as it is getting now and there must be assurance for the people of Kerala that the aging dam is not a safety hazard for Kerala. If necessary a new agreement must be entered into scrapping the agreements in dispute.</li>
<li>All right-thinking persons in both States and across India (because this is a national problem too) to come forward with suggestions to resolve this dispute amicably and in a manner that benefits everyone.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Joseph Ponnoly</div>
</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-64992880382235200992011-12-06T05:22:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:05:21.031-08:00What if Mullaperiyar dam breaks?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The crucial question to be answered is:<br />
What if Mullaperiyar dam breaks, in spite of all the strengthening done so far, with the dam burst resulting from torrential rains or earthquakes or due to structural weaknesses of the aging 116 year old dam?<br />
<br />
The dam holds 15 tmc of water (at its full capacity) at an elevation of approx 3000 ft from msl. The water level has a height of 155 feet at its maximum level and length of 1200 feet at the top and 139 feet at the base.<br />
<br />
If the dam breaks, what is the rate of flow of water downstream? What will be the height of the column of water and the force with which it will strike Idukki Dam, 45 kms downstream?<br />
Even if Idukki Dam is able to hold the 15 tmc of water, will it sustain the force of the gushing waters and the waves formed in the Idukki reservoir?<br />
<br />
How much time will it take to traverse the 244 km course of Periyar River to reach Arabian Sea?<br />
Considering the topography of the mountain range through which the gushing waters have to pass through, where are the possibilities of new ribs or new rivers (flow channels) being formed? Which areas in Kerala will be most affected by this scenario?<br />
<br />
What will be the impact on 11 other dams downstream and the waters held by them?<br />
<br />
Assume the spillways are able to divert some of the water.<br />
<br />
Consider the main dam and baby dam also breaking.<br />
<br />
-Joseph Ponnoly</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-83615971896834288402011-12-05T12:32:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:05:36.767-08:00The Supreme Court Judgment - 27 Feb 2006<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://judis.nic.in/">http://JUDIS.NIC.IN</a><br />
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA <br />
CASE NO.: Writ Petition (civil) 386 of 2001<br />
PETITIONER: Mullaperiyar Environmental Protection Forum<br />
RESPONDENT: Union of India & Ors<br />
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 27/02/2006<br />
BENCH:<br />
Y.K. Sabharwal, C.K.Thakker & P.K. Balasubramanyan<br />
JUDGMENT:<br />
J U D G M E N T<br />
[With TC (C) Nos.56-59 and 96-99 of 2002]<br />
Y.K. Sabharwal, CJI.<br />
<br />
Mullaperiyar reservoir is surrounded by high hills on all sides with forest and is a sheltered reservoir. The orientation of the dam is such that the direction of wind in the south west monsoon would be away from the dam. It is said that for past 100 years, Tamil Nadu Government Officers have been approaching the reservoir during the<br />
flood season only from Thekkady side in a boat and have not noticed any significant wave action.<br />
The main question to be determined in these matters is about the safety of the dam if the water level is raised beyond its present level of 136 ft. To determine the question, we may first narrate factual background.<br />
<br />
An agreement dated 29th October, 1886 was entered into between the Maharaja of Travancore and the Secretary of State for India in Council whereunder about 8000 acres of land was leased for execution and preservation of irrigation works called ’Periyar Project’. In pursuance of the said agreement, a water reservoir was constructed across Periyar river during 1887-1895. It is known as Mullaperiyar Dam consisting of main dam, baby dam and other ancillary works.<br />
The salient features of the dam as mentioned in the agreement are as follows :<br />
"Type of Dam Masonry Dam<br />
Length of the main dam 1200 ft. (365.76 mt.)<br />
Top of the dam 155 ft. (47.24 mt.)<br />
Top of solid parapet 158 ft. (48.16 mt.)<br />
Maximum height of dam (from deepest foundation) 176 ft. (53.64 mt.)<br />
FRL (Full Reservoir Level) 152 ft. (46.33 mt.)<br />
MWL (Design) 155 ft. (47.24 mt.)<br />
Crest level of spillway 136 ft. (41.45 mt.)<br />
Maximum water level reached 154.80 ft. (47.18mt) During floods (till date) on 03.01.43<br />
Spillway capacity 10 vents of 36’ x 16’ (10.97 m. x 4.88 m.)<br />
Storage Capacity (gross) 443.23 m.cu.m (15.662 TMC.ft)<br />
Live capacity 299.13 m.cu.m. (10.563 TMC)<br />
Irrigation benefit in Tamil Nadu 68558 ha. (169408.68 acres) <br />
Length of Baby dam 240 ft.(73.15 mt.)"<br />
<br />
In the past, reservoir was filled up to full level of 152 ft. as per the agreement. The agreement was modified in the year 1970. The State of Tamil Nadu was allowed to generate electricity from the project and it surrendered fishing rights in the leasehold land in favour of State of Kerala. It also agreed to pay annually a sum specified in the agreement to the State of Kerala. The Government of Kerala was also granted right of fishing over and upon the waters, tanks and ponds in the land and agreed that the principal deed and all the conditions shall remain intact without affecting in any way the irrigation and power right of the Government of Tamil Nadu.<br />
<br />
According to the petitioner, there was leakage in the gallery of the dam which affected its security and, therefore, the water level was stopped at 136 feet. In view of such situation, the Central Water Commission (CWC) inspected the dam, held meetings with representatives of both the States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu for considering ways and means to strengthen the Mullaperiyar Dam. At the meeting, certain decisions were taken for the purpose of ensuring security and safety of reservoir and by taking several necessary measures. Three types of measures were envisaged, namely, (i) emergency measures, (ii) middle term measures, and (iii) long term measures. The progress of implementation of measures was also reviewed in the meetings held in 1980, 1983, 1996 and 1997. In this light, it is claimed that water level cannot be raised from its present level of 136 feet.<br />
<br />
In view of apprehension expressed in the light of leakage, in the year 1979 the water level was allowed upto 136 ft. instead of 152 ft. After thorough study and considering all aspects, the CWC felt that certain steps were required to be taken immediately and both the States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala ought to cooperate. On taking those steps, water would be allowed to be filled upto 142 feet. Some other steps were also suggested for allowing the water to be filled in at the full level of 152 feet. <br />
<br />
The State of Kerala expressed reservations against the report submitted by CWC and according to a dissent note, appended by the representative of the State of<br />
Kerala, the water level could not be allowed to be raised beyond 136 feet.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">For the present, the only question is whether water level can be allowed to be increased to 142 feet or not.</span></b></i><br />
<br />
The State of Kerala has filed an affidavit justifying its stand of not allowing raising of water level from 136 feet. According to it, the life of the dam was said to be 50 years from the date of construction. Since it had completed more than 100 years, it had served the useful life. It was, therefore, dangerous to allow raising of water level beyond 136 feet. It was also stated that if something happens to the dam, serious consequences could ensue and three adjoining districts could be completely wiped out and destroyed. It was also the stand of the State that the dam was constructed at a time when the design and construction techniques were in infancy. There was no testing laboratory to get accurate and detailed tests of construction materials. The stress and other elements were observed in the dam right from the initial filling and remained there in spite of remedial measures taken out. Moreover, there were frequent tremors occurring in that area and in case of an earthquake, it could result in serious calamities and total destruction of life and property. It was also alleged that the technical officials of CWC had submitted the report without effective participation of the technicians from Kerala and view points of Kerala had not been considered at all. According to the State, CWC also could not be considered as the highest technical body in the country for giving technical advice and the decision taken by CWC without consultation of State of Kerala, was not binding on the State.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the State of Tamil Nadu said that the apprehension voiced by the State of Kerala was totally ill-founded, baseless and incorrect and based on<br />
mere figment of imagination. CWC was the highest technical authority with the required expertise on the subject. It had inspected the dam in detail and found various allegations as incorrect and baseless. It also stated that an expert committee was constituted in pursuance of an order passed by this Court and a report<br />
was submitted in the year 2001. As per the report, water level deserves to be allowed to be raised upto 142 feet as an interim measure on taking certain steps and after execution of the strengthening measure in respect of Baby Dam, earthen bund and on completion of remaining portion, the water level could be allowed to be restored at FRL i.e. 152 feet. Unfortunately, however, the State of Kerala did not cooperate and did not allow increase of water level even upto 142 feet. It was stated that the committee consisting of experts considered the question and thereafter various recommendations were made and actions were suggested. It was, therefore, not open to the State of Kerala to refuse to cooperate and not to accept the suggestions and the recommendations of CWC.<br />
<br />
According to the State of Tamil Nadu, its prayer for raising water level upto 142 feet at the initial stage and 152 feet at the final stage deserves to be accepted. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>A Committee was constituted with terms of reference as under </b>:</span><br />
"(a) To study the safety of Mulla Periyar Dam located on Periyar river in Kerala with respect to the strengthening of dam carried out by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu in<br />
accordance with the strengthening measures suggested by CWC and to report/advise the Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources on the safety of the dam.<br />
(b). To advise the Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources regarding raising of water level in Mulla Periyar reservoir beyond 136 ft. (41.45 m) as a result of strengthening of the dam and its safety as at (a) above.<br />
The Committee will visit the dam to have first hand information and to assess the safety aspects of the dam. It will hold discussions with Secretary, Irrigation of the Kerala Govt. as well as Secretary, PWD, Govt. of Tamil Nadu with respect to safety of the dam and other related issues."<br />
<br />
According to the State of Tamil Nadu, the Committee after inspecting the dam and after holding discussions with the officials of the two States, submitted its interim report wherein<b> recommendations </b>were made as under:<br />
<br />
"1. The Tamil Nadu PWD Department should immediately test the masonry of the Baby dam to find out the permissible tensile strength that can be adopted for the lime surkhy mortar used in the construction of Baby dam. Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), Government of India, New Delhi, should carry out these tests.<br />
CSMRS are specialist in carrying out geophysical and core tests and have a good reputation. These tests should be carried out in the presence of the representatives of Tamil Nadu PWD, Irrigation Department, Government of Kerala and CWC. The results of these tests should be made available to the Committee by end of November, 2000. The Government of Kerala should permit Tamil Nadu PWD & CSMRS to carry out these tests without any hindrance.<br />
<br />
2. Core samples of Baby dam shall also be extracted and tested by CSMRS, New Delhi, at the upstream and downstream faces of the dam. These results may be used to develop corelation between the actual tests and the results obtained by geophysical testing.<br />
<br />
3. The strengthening measures pertaining to the Baby dam and the earthen bund as already suggested by the CWC and formulated by the Government of Tamil Nadu should be carried out at the earliest. Government of Kerala is requested to allow the execution of strengthening measures of the Baby dam and earthen bund immediately.<br />
4. Raising of water level beyond 136 ft. (41.45 m) will be decided after obtaining the tensile and compressive strength of the masonry of the Baby dam."<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>The final report of the committee</b> </span>shows that certain more steps were required to be taken before raising of reservoir level upto FLR i.e. 152 feet and those<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">recommendations</span></b> are :<br />
<br />
"1. The strengthening measures pertaining to Baby dam and the earthen bund, as already suggested by CWC and formulated by the Government of Tamil Nadu, should be carried out at the earliest.<br />
2. Government of Kerala should allow the execution of strengthening measures of Baby dam, earthen bund and the remaining portion of about 20 m of parapet wall on the main Mulla Periyar Dam upto EL 160 ft. (48.77 m) immediately.<br />
3. CWC will finalise the instrumentation for installation at the main dam. In addition, instruments will be installed during strengthening of Baby dam, including the earthen bund, so that monitoring of the health of Mulla Periyar dam, Baby dam and earthen bund can be done on a continuous basis.<br />
4. The water level in the Mulla Periyar reservoir be raised to a level where the tensile stress in the Baby dam does not exceed 2.85 t/m2 (as suggested by Shri Parameswaran Nair, Kerala representative) especially in condition E (full reservoir level with earthquake) as per BIS Code IS 6512-1984 with ah=0.12 g and analysis as per clause Nos. 3.4.2.3 and 7.3.1 of BIS Code 1893-1984.<br />
<br />
5. The Committee Members discussed the issue of raising of water levelabove EL 136.00 ft. (41.45 m) after studying the analysis of safety of Baby dam. <br />
<br />
Prof. A. Mohanakrishnan, Member of Tamil Nadu Government, opined in the light of para 4 that the water level should be raised upto at least EL 143.00 ft. (43.59 m) as the tensile stresses are within the permissible limits. Shri M.K. Parameswaran Nair, Member of Kerala Government did not agree to raise the water level above EL 136.00 ft. (41.45 m). <br />
However, the Committee after detailed deliberations, has opined that the water level in the Mulla Periyar reservoir be raised to EL 142.00 ft. (43.28 m) which will not endanger the safety of the Main dam, including spillway, Baby dam and earthen bund. The abstracts of the calculations for stress analysis are enclosed as Annex. XIX.<br />
<br />
6. This raising of reservoir level upto a level where the tensile stress does not exceed 2.85 t/m2 during the earthquake condition is an interim measure and further raising of water level to the FRL EL 152.00 ft. (46.33 m) [original design FRL of the Mulla Periyar Reservoir] be studied after the strengthening measures on Baby<br />
dam are carried out and completed."<br />
<br />
The State of Kerala continued to resist raising of water level. The objections raised by the representative of State of Kerala were considered by the Expert Committee and taking into account the matter in its entirety and keeping in view the safety of dam, certain suggestions were made. It required the State of Tamil<br />
Nadu to take those steps. The Expert Committee stated that it was equally obligatory on the part of State of Kerala to act in accordance with the suggestions and recommendations made by the CWC and that the State of Kerala cannot refuse to cooperate on the ground that raising of water level would cause serious problem in<br />
spite of the report of the Expert Committee and recommendations and decision by CWC.<br />
<br />
In the writ petition filed by Mullaperiyar Environmental Protection Forum, various prayers have been made. <br />
They have, inter alia, prayed that agreements of 1886 and 1970 be declared as null and void and onsequential relief be granted and also that Section 108 of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956, be declared ultra vires and unconstitutional as it encroaches upon legislative domain of the State Legislature under Entry 17 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The petitioner has also raised objection about the legality of the agreement between the Maharaja of Travancore and the Governor General. It is claimed that<br />
the agreement was entered into in ’unholy’ haste and virtually it was thrust upon and the Maharaja was forced to accept it. It was also submitted that under Section 108 of the States Re-organization Act, any agreement or arrangement entered into by Central Government and one or more existing States relating to the right to receive and utilize water can continue to remain in force subject to certain adaptations and modifications as may be agreed upon between the successor States. Since there was no such agreement after November 1, 1957, the agreement would not continue to remain in force.<br />
It also pleaded that the agreements are not covered by Entry 56 of List I of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and hence Parliament has no power to make any law in respect thereof.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the State of Taml Nadu seeks directions for raising of water level to 142 ft. and later, after strengthening, to its full level of 152 ft.<br />
<br />
On Section 108 of the States Reorganisation Act, the stand taken by the State of Tamil Nadu is that this Section, in pith and substance, deals with "continuance of agreements and arrangements relating to certain irrigation, power or multipurpose projects" and it figures in the Act under which the present State of Kerala was formed. According to the State of Tamil Nadu, the Act was not an enactment made in exercise of Parliament’s legislative power under Entry 56 of List I, but was an enactment covered by Articles 3 & 4 of the Constitution of India which provides for formation of new States and making of supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions.<br />
The pre-existing contractual obligation was reasserted and reaffirmed by the State of Kerala after its formation by signing fresh agreements in 1970. It is also urged that the Lists in Schedule Seven have no applicability as the point in issue is governed by Articles 3 & 4 of the Constitution of India.<br />
<br />
Another contention urged for the petitioner is that in the light of later development of law, the agreement of 1886 stands frustrated. It was submitted that the lease land was declared as reserve forest in the year 1899 by the erstwhile State of Travancore under the Travancore Forest Act. The notification remained in force under subsection (3) of Section 85 of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961. In 1934, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary had been declared as a ’sanctuary’ covering the grassy area, marshy areas, swamps of Mullaperiyar Dam which was expanded to 777 sq. kms. under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. Taking into account its importance as a well known habitat of tigers which is a highly endangered species, the sanctuary has been declared as "Periyar Tiger Reserve" in 1978 under the special management programme known as ’Project Tiger’. It was said to be the oldest sanctuary in the State of Kerala which played a very important role in bio-diversity conservation in Western Ghats. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has declared it as a biodiversity hot spot. According to the petitioner, the forest land immediately above the present maximum water level at 136 feet has special significance from bio-diversity point of view as it comprises different types of habitats like grassy areas, marshy areas, swamps and areas covered with trees. These are the prime habitats used by most of the wild animals especially larger herbivores, carnivores and amphibians. The birds like darter and cormorants nest on the tree stumps which stand out distributed in the reservoir. Raising of water level would submerge these stumps and upset the nesting and reproduction of birds. The submergence of the forest above 136 ft. would adversely affect the bio-diversity<br />
therein and in the neighbouring forests both in terms of flora and fauna. Further, it is urged that raising of water level would also seriously affect the ecology and economy of the State of Kerala. Having regard to these developments, the State of Tamil Nadu is not entitled to increase the water level.<br />
<br />
According to the State of Tamil Nadu, Periyar Project was completed in the year 1895. The Declaration of area as Reserved Forest was made in 1899. Moreover, the declaration has not adversely affected the interest of the petitioner or the State of Kerala. According to the State of Tamil Nadu, the provisions of Kerala Forest Act, 1961 and the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 have no applicability to the case in hand. It is also urged that raising of water level in any case would not adversely affect the natural environment. Further, according to the State of Tamil Nadu, the submergence of land due to raising of water level from 136 feet to the designated FRL 152 feet would cover only 11.2 sq. kms. The percentage of area that gets submerged is only 1.44% of the total area which is very meager. It was also asserted that the raising of water level will not affect Wildlife habitat, on the contrary it would improve the Wildlife habitat. The restoration of water level will in no way affect the flora and fauna as alleged nor affect the nesting and reproduction of birds. Higher water level will facilitate better environment for flora and fauna to flourish better. It will lead to development of new flora and fauna and will also act as resting place for migratory birds and number of rare species of birds. The increase of water level in the reservoir will also increase tourist attraction and generate more funds for the State of Kerala and also result in increase of aquatic life and since the fishery rights are with the State of Kerala, it will enable the said State to generate more funds.<br />
<br />
In the aforesaid background,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> <b>the questions that arise for determination</b> </span>are these:<br />
1. Whether Section 108 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 is unconstitutional?<br />
2. Whether the jurisdiction of this Court is barred in view of Article 262 read with Section 11 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956?<br />
3. Whether Article 363 of the Constitution bars the jurisdiction of this Court?<br />
4. Whether disputes are liable to be referred to Arbitration?<br />
5. Whether the raising of water level of the reservoir from 136 ft. to 142 ft. would result in jeopardising the safety of the people and also degradation of environment?<br />
<br />
1. RE : <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Validity of Section 108 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956</b> </span>( For short ’the Act’).<br />
The contention urged is that the subject matter of water is covered by Entry 17 of the State List under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and, therefore, Section 108 which, inter alia, provides that any agreement or arrangement entered into between the Central Government and one or more existing States or<br />
between two or more existing States relating to distribution of benefits, such as the right to receive and utilise water or electric power, to be derived as a result of the execution of such project, which was subsisting immediately before the appointed day shall continue in force, would be outside the legislative competence of the Parliament for the same does not fall in List I of Seventh Schedule, it falls in List-II. The Act was enacted to provide for the reorganisation of the States of India and for matters connected therewith as stipulated by Article 3 of the Constitution. The said Article, inter alia, provides that the Parliament may by law form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any State. Article 4, inter alia, provides that any law referred to in Article 2 or 3 shall contain such provisions for the amendment of the First Schedule and the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the law and may also contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as Parliament may deem necessary. The creation of new States by altering territories and boundaries of existing States is within the exclusive domain of Parliament. The law making power under Articles 3 and 4 is paramount and is not subjected to nor fettered by Article 246 and Lists II and III of the Seventh Schedule. The Constitution confers supreme and exclusive power on Parliament under Articles 3 and 4 so that while creating new States by reorganisation, the Parliament may enact provisions for dividing land, water and other resources; distribute the assets and liabilities of predecessor States amongst the new States; make provisions for contracts and other legal rights and<br />
obligations. The constitutional validity of law made under Articles 3 and 4 cannot be questioned on ground of lack of legislative competence with reference to the lists of Seventh Schedule. The new State owes its very existence to the law made by the Parliament. It would be incongruous to say that the provision in an Act which gives birth to a State is ultra vires a legislative entry which the State may operate after it has come into existence. The power of the State to enact laws in List II of Seventh Schedule are subject to Parliamentary legislation under Articles 3 and 4. The State cannot claim to have legislative powers over such waters which<br />
are the subject of Inter-State agreement which is continued by a Parliamentary enactment, namely, the States Organisation Act, enacted under Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution of India. The effect of Section 108 is that the agreement between the predecessor States relating to irrigation and power generation etc. would<br />
continue. There is a statutory recognition of the contractual rights and liabilities of the new States which cannot be affected unilaterally by any of the party States either by legislation or executive action. The power of Parliament to make law under Articles 3 and 4 is plenary and traverse over all legislative subjects as are necessary for effectuating a proper reorganisation of the States. We are unable to accept the contention as to invalidity of Section 108 of the Act.<br />
<br />
2. RE : <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Whether the jurisdiction of this Court is barred in view of Article 262 read with Section 11 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956?</span></b><br />
Article 262 provides that Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley. The jurisdiction of the Courts in respect of any dispute or complaint referred to in Article 262(1), can be barred by Parliament by making law. The Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 was enacted by Parliament in exercise of power under Article 262 of the Constitution. Section 11 of the said Act excludes the jurisdiction of Supreme Court in respect of a water dispute referred to the Tribunal. Section 2(c) of this Act defines ’water dispute’. It, inter alia, means a dispute as to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or as to the interpretation or implementation of agreement of such waters.<br />
<br />
In the present case, however, the dispute is not the one contemplated by Section 2(c) of the Act. Dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala is not a ’water dispute’. The right of Tamil Nadu to divert water from Peryar reservoir to Tamil Nadu for integrated purpose of irrigation or to use the water to generate power or for<br />
other uses is not in dispute. The dispute is also not about the lease granted to Tamil Nadu in the year 1886 or about supplementary agreements of 1970. It is also not in dispute that the dam always had and still stands at the height of 155 ft. and its design of full water level is 152 ft. There was also no dispute as to the water level till the year 1979. In 1979, the water level was brought down to 136 ft. to facilitate State of Tamil Nadu to carryout certain strengthening measures suggested by Central Water Commission (CWC). The main issue now is about the safety of the dam on increase of the water level to 142 ft. For determining this issue, neither Article 262 of the Constitution of India nor the provisions of the Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956 have any applicability. There is no substance in the contention that Article 262 read with Section 11 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act bars the jurisdiction of the court in regard to nature of disputes between the two States.<br />
<br />
<br />
3. RE :<b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Whether Article 363 of the Constitution bars the jurisdiction of this Court</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">?</span><br />
<br />
The jurisdiction of the courts in respect of dispute arising out of any provision of a treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument entered into or executed before the commencement of the Constitution is barred in respect of matters and in the manner provided in Article 363 of the Constitution of India. The main reason for ouster of jurisdiction of courts as provided in Article 363 was to make certain class of agreements non-justiciable and to prevent the Indian Rulers from resiling from such agreements because that would have affected the integrity of India. The agreement of the present nature would not come within the purview of Article 363. This Article has no applicability to ordinary agreements such as lease agreements, agreements for use of land and water, construction works. These are wholly non-political in nature. The present dispute is not in respect of a right accruing or a liability or obligation arising under any provision of the Constitution {see Madhav Rao Scindia v. Union of India [(1971) 3 SCR 9]}<br />
The contention also runs counter to Section 108 of the States Reorganisation Act, which expressly continues the agreement. There is, thus, no merit in this objection<br />
as well.<br />
<br />
4. RE :<b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Whether disputes are liable to be referred to Arbitration</span>?</b><br />
<br />
It is contended that the lease deed dated 29th October, 1886 provides that whenever any dispute or question arises between the Lessor and the Lessee touching upon the rights, duties or liabilities of either party, it shall be referred to two arbitrators and then to an umpire if they differ. This clause was amended in supplementary agreement dated 29th May, 1970. Relying on the arbitration agreement, the contention urged on behalf of State of Kerala is that the parties should be directed to resort to alternate remedy of arbitration and discretionary relief in these petitions may not be granted to State of Tamil Nadu. There is no substance in this contention as well. The present dispute is not about the rights, duties and obligations or interpretation of any part of the agreement. As already noted, the controversy herein is whether the water level in the reservoir can<br />
presently be increased to 142 ft. having regard to the safety of the dam. The full water level was 152 ft. It was reduced to 136 ft. in 1979. The aspect of increase of water level is dependant upon the safety of the dam after strengthening steps have been taken. This aspect has been examined by experts.<br />
<br />
5. Re : <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Whether the raising of water level of the reservoir from 136 ft. to 142 ft. would result in jeopardising the safety of the people and also degradation of environment?</span></b><br />
<br />
Opposing the increase of water level, the contention urged is that it would result in a larger area coming in submergence which is not permissible without complying with the mandatory provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Reliance has been placed on Section 26A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act which stipulates that the boundaries of a sanctuary shall not be altered except on a recommendation of the National Board constituted under Section 5-A of the Act. The total area of the sanctuary is about 777 square kilometers. The leased area of about 8,000 acres is a part of the total area. By raising the water level, the boundaries of the sanctuary do not get altered. The total area of the sanctuary remains 777 square kilometers. Further, Section 2(17) of the Act, which defines land includes canals, creeks and other water channels, reservoirs, rivers, streams and lakes, whether artificial or natural, marshes and wetlands and also includes boulders and rocks. It cannot be said that forest or wildlife would be affected by carrying out strengthening works and increase of the water level. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the strengthening work of existing dam in the forest cannot be described as a non-forestry activity so as to attract Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, requiring prior approval of Union of India.<br />
<br />
As already noticed, it was only in 1979 that thewater level was brought down to 136 ft from 152 ft. The increase of water level will not affect the flora and fauna. In fact, the reports placed on record show that there will be improvement in the environment. It is on record that the fauna, particularly, elephant herds and the tigers will be happier when the water level slowly rises to touch the forest line. In nature, all birds and animals love water spread and exhibit their exuberant pleasure with heavy rains filling the reservoir resulting in lot of greenery and ecological environment around. The Expert Committee has reported that it will be beneficial for the Wildlife in the surrounding area as it will increase the carrying capacity for wildlife like elephants, ungulates and in turn tigers. The apprehension regarding adverse impact on environment and ecology have been found by the experts to be unfounded. We are also unable to accept the contention that the impact on environments has not been examined. Report dated 28th January, 2003 states that there is no adverse impact on the environment.<br />
Similarly, the report dated 21st April, 2003 is also to the similar effect. It, inter alia, states that : "The most productive habitats in terms of forage availability to ungulates and elephants are these vayals. This habitat is of even greater significance to wildlife since the green flush of protein rich grasses appears at a time when nutritive quality of forest forage is lowest. This is so since water is likely to be released from the Dam during the dry months for irrigation. Thus, this nutrient rich biomass is critical for maintaining condition of herbivores and their populations during the pinch period.<br />
<br />
If the lowest water level even after increasing the water capacity of the dam is maintained at the current level, then the increased high water table will make more area available as Vayals, effectively adding some more area to the existing Vayals, thereby increasing the carrying capacity of the reserve for ungulates, elephants and in turn of tigers. In this view, we find no substance in the contention that there will be adverse effect on environment.<br />
<br />
Regarding the issue as to the safety of the dam on water level being raised to 142 ft. from the present level of 136 ft, the various reports have examined the safety angle in depth including the viewpoint of earthquake resistance. The apprehensions have been found to be baseless. In fact, the reports suggest an obstructionist<br />
attitude on the part of State of Kerala. The Expert Committee was comprised of independent officers. Seismic forces as per the provisions were taken into account and structural designs made accordingly while carrying out strengthening measures. The final report of the Committee, set up by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India to study the water safety aspect of the dam and raising the water level has examined the matter in detail. The Chairman of the Committee was a Member (D&R) of Central Water Commission, two Chief Engineers of Central Water Commission, Director, dam safety, Government of Madhya Pradesh and retired Engineer-in-Chief, UP besides two representatives of Governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, were members of the Committee. All appended their signatures except the representative of the Kerala Government.<br />
<br />
The summary of results of stability analysis of Mullaperiyar Baby Dam contains note which shows that the permissible tensile strength was masonry as per the specifications mentioned therein based on test conducted by CSMRS, Delhi on the time and agreed by all Committee members including the Kerala representative in the meeting of the Committee held on 9-10th February, 2001. It also shows the various strengthening measures suggested by CWC having been completed by Tamil Nadu PWD on the dam including providing of RCC backing to the dam. The report also suggests that the parapet wall of the baby dam and main dam have been raised to 160 ft. (48.77 mt.) except for a 20 mt. stretch on the main dam due to denial of permission by the Government of Kerala. Some other works as stated therein were not allowed to be carried on by the State of Kerala.<br />
<br />
The report of CWC after inspection of main dam, the galleries, baby dam, earthen bund and spillway, concludes that the dam is safe and no excessive seepage is seen and that Mullaperiyar dam has been recently strengthened. There are no visible cracks that have occurred in the body of the dam and seepage measurements indicate no cracks in the upstream side of the dam. Our attention has also been drawn to various documents and drawings including cross-sections of the Periyar dam to demonstrate the strengthening measures.<br />
<br />
Further, it is pertinent to note that the dam immediately in line after Mullaperiyar dam is Idukki dam. It is the case of State of Kerala that despite the ’copious rain’, the Idukki reservoir is not filled to its capacity, while the capacity of reservoir is 70.500 TMC, it was filled only to the extent of 57.365 TMC. This also shows that assuming the worst happens, more than 11 TMC water would be taken by Idukki dam. <br />
<br />
The Deputy Director, Dam Safety, Monitoring Directorate, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources in affidavit of April 2004 has, inter alia, sated that during the recent earthquake mentioned by Kerala Government in its affidavit, no damage to the dam was reported by CWC officers who inspected the dam. The experts having reported about the safety of the dam and the Kerala Government having adopted an obstructionist approach, cannot now be permitted to take shelter under the plea that these are disputed questions of fact. There is no report to suggest that the safety of the dam would be jeopardized if the water level is raised for the present to 142 ft. The report is to the contrary.<br />
<br />
<b>Regarding raising the water level to 152 ft., the stage has still not reached.</b> At present, that is not the prayer of the State of Tamil Nadu. In this regard, at this stage, the only prayer of the State of Tamil Nadu is that State of Kerala be directed not to obstruct it in carrying out strengthening measures, as suggested by CWC. We see no reason for the State of Kerala to cause any obstruction.<br />
<br />
Under the aforesaid circumstances, we permit State of Tamil Nadu to carry out further strengthening measures as suggested by CWC and hope that State of Kerala would cooperate in the matter. The State of Kerala and its officers are restrained from causing any obstruction. After the strengthening work is complete to the satisfaction of the CWC, independent experts would examine the safety angle before the water level is permitted to be raised to 152 ft.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The writ petition and the connected matters are disposed of by permitting the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam being raised to 142 ft. and by permitting the further strengthening of the dam as aforesaid. </span></b></i></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-10671883496572297322011-12-04T22:14:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:06:10.503-08:00Is a new dam the solution to the problem? -What the experts say<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What the experts say:<br />
<b>Dr D.K.Paul IIT Roorkee</b> 's 2009 report on '<i>Structural Study of Mullaperiyar Dam considering the Seismic effects'</i>:<br />
The dam will not withstand earthquakes measuring 6 point or above on the Richter scale.<br />
<br />
D<b>r C.P.Rajendran, Seismologist, IISc, Bangalore:</b><br />
Construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar is the solution to most of the problems related to this century old dam<br />
<br />
<b>Tamilnadu stand:</b><br />
The dam has been well maintained and reconstructed</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-80121153468788886082011-12-04T21:12:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:06:22.929-08:00Back to 1895- Diversion of the River Periyar and the Periyar Project<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From 'The Geographical Journal', Vol. 6, No. 6, Dec 1895<br />
The Monthly Record pg 566-567<br />
Diversion of the Upper Coure of the Periyar River, South India<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxtPmG8dFIjjvmhx5IND07H1J2jY1hjWkrUGU0ufNyMUgW8-CxW89ogeTjKea92uE48zs-VI_nlOd4rGd3CLz-fDc0t0u0Q9lncRK_e3IhM47FSuZS3Vgz2gv-xQzwD6t6hVfeyMMuS-j/s1600/Diversion+of+Periyar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxtPmG8dFIjjvmhx5IND07H1J2jY1hjWkrUGU0ufNyMUgW8-CxW89ogeTjKea92uE48zs-VI_nlOd4rGd3CLz-fDc0t0u0Q9lncRK_e3IhM47FSuZS3Vgz2gv-xQzwD6t6hVfeyMMuS-j/s320/Diversion+of+Periyar1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDz1dsVt2tWvtND_Ash74Eu7xxlyg6rfT3W0UhPIQfA2wHIgqm7ZVoxoo051SHxkwRtCyfZ-9ogye-GCpG4-7eyHs2CKa7J7gP6HMMqmvyPo-5-R-UDXH5hvteqmWqSxgqimwxgyURGiMF/s1600/Diversion+of+Periyar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDz1dsVt2tWvtND_Ash74Eu7xxlyg6rfT3W0UhPIQfA2wHIgqm7ZVoxoo051SHxkwRtCyfZ-9ogye-GCpG4-7eyHs2CKa7J7gP6HMMqmvyPo-5-R-UDXH5hvteqmWqSxgqimwxgyURGiMF/s320/Diversion+of+Periyar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-1963067708470854332011-12-04T18:16:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:06:35.452-08:00Diversion of the Periyar- Pennycuick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Diversion of the Periyar by John Pennycuick<br />
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers<br />
Journal of the Western Society of Engineers, Vol. 2, pp. 629-632-<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pennycuick%20-%20Periyar&pg=PA629&ci=91%2C347%2C826%2C1063&source=bookclip"><img src="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA629&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U3S4QfuSTX57OSCxKnx4EqlnQUoUg&ci=91%2C347%2C826%2C1063&edge=0" /></a><br />
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pennycuick%20-%20Periyar&pg=PA630&ci=108%2C111%2C787%2C1315&source=bookclip"><img src="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA630&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U2AIn0zq74yJeS5-zq7-_DuS5MlAw&ci=108%2C111%2C787%2C1315&edge=0" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pennycuick%20-%20Periyar&pg=PA631&ci=131%2C105%2C765%2C1342&source=bookclip"><img src="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA631&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U2O6We2B-A-yMtaO8Oj-8VOIEU5rQ&ci=131%2C105%2C765%2C1342&edge=0" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pennycuick%20-%20Periyar&pg=PA632&ci=140%2C108%2C769%2C758&source=bookclip"><img src="http://books.google.com/books?id=H2DOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA632&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U3JovfumADN0IJk6opg7usfeWgCxw&ci=140%2C108%2C769%2C758&edge=0" /></a></div>
</div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-80286513381828800232011-12-04T13:06:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:05:17.530-08:00Who should own and control the Mullaperiyar dam?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tamil Nadu's right to control the dam and use its waters is based on the lease agreement of 29th October, 1886.<br />
This was executed between the <b>Maharajah of Travancore</b> as the 'lessor' and '<b>the Secretary of State for India in Council</b>', as seen from the agreement extracted below:<br />
"This Indenture made the twentyninth day of October one thousand eight hundred and eightysix (corresponding with the fourteenth day of Tulam 1062 of the Malabar Era)<br />
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS HIGHNESS THE MAHARAJA OF TRAVANCORE ( hereinafter called the Lessor) of the one part and<br />
THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA IN COUNCIL of the other part "<br />
===<br />
Does this not mean that it is the Government of India to whom lease is given by the Travancore Maharajah and not to the State of Tamilnadu?<br />
Does not Kerala State have equal right to claim to be assigns or successors to Secretary of State for India as Tamilnadu?<br />
<br />
Does this also not mean that the Central Government can take over the control of the dam from Tamilnadu?<br />
Since the dam is now in 'endangered' status and has become a threat to public safety, does not the lease agreement become null and void, entitling Kerala Government to take over ownership and control of the dam and leased property?<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br style="background-color: #333333;" /></span></span></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426763251966159384.post-22607092103757569492011-12-03T20:26:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:08:28.741-08:00What is the normal lifespan of a storage dam?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Has the 116 year old Mullaperiyar dam outlived its lifespan?<br />
What is the normal lifespan of a storage dam?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Here are some excerpts from 'Life-span of Storage Dams' by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><i>Martin Wieland</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><i>Reproduced from:</i></span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sc=2055594">http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sc=2055594</a><br />
<br />
Life-span of storage dams<br />
03 March 2010<br />
Dam engineers and dam owners may not always have a clear idea about the life-span of their projects. Here, Martin Wieland discusses the many factors which could impact on the useful life of a dam<br />
Similar to other major infrastructure projects, the design life-span of the dam body is given as a time-span varying between the concession period and typically 100 years. However, the life-span of hydromechanical steel structures, electromechanical equipment and control units is shorter than that of the main civil/structural components and are specified by the suppliers, who also provide instruction manuals describing operation and maintenance. For the civil parts of a water storage facility, however, there are often no manuals on maintenance, although there may be guidelines on regular visual inspections and dam monitoring.<br />
It has to be recognized that there is a direct relationship between dam safety and its life-span, i.e. if the dam is unsafe its life-span has expired.<br />
Safety criteria for assessment of the life-span of dams<br />
The life-span of any dam is as long as it is technically safe and operable! In view of the high damage potential of large storage dams, the safety has to be assessed based on an integral safety concept, which includes the following elements (Wieland and Mueller, 2009):<br />
• 1. Structural safety (main elements: geologic, hydraulic and seismic design criteria; design criteria and methods of analysis may have to be updated when new data are available or new recommendations, guidelines, regulations or codes are introduced).<br />
• 2. Safety monitoring (main elements: dam instrumentation, periodic safety assessments by dam experts, etc.).<br />
• 3. Operational safety (main elements: reliable rule curves for reservoir operation under normal and extraordinary (hydrological) conditions, training of personnel, dam maintenance, sediment flushing, engineering back-up etc.).<br />
• 4. Emergency planning (main elements: emergency action plans, water alarm systems, evacuation plans, engineering back-up etc.).<br />
Therefore, as long as the proper handling of these safety issues can be guaranteed according to this integral safety concept, a dam can be considered as safe.<br />
With the number of people living in the downstream area of a dam and the economic development the risk pattern may change with time, calling for higher safety standards to be applied to the project.<br />
Factors affecting life-span of dams<br />
The main factors, which have an impact on the service life and which may call for upgrading of a dam are the following:<br />
• (i) Changes in the design criteria (hydrology and seismic hazard) based on new information obtained since the initial design of the dam.<br />
• (ii) Changes in methods of analysis and new safety concepts (for example, n-1 rule for flood discharge facilities of embankment dams).<br />
• (iii) Results of risk assessments (new risks and change in risk acceptance criteria).<br />
• (iv) Ageing of construction and foundation materials and components.<br />
As any changes in the above items are reviewed periodically (e.g. during detailed five-year-inspections of large dams), effects such as climatic change on floods etc. can be taken care of. As a matter of fact, this has been done and is being done for other hazards, such as earthquake action, which has not been considered at all in the design of older dams. To adapt an old dam to new seismic design and flood safety criteria is often more drastic than the rather long-term changes in the floods.<br />
Ageing and its impact on the life-span of concrete dams<br />
One of the important safety concerns is ageing of the concrete and of the foundation rock, i.e.<br />
• (i) Chemical processes (swelling due to alkali aggregate reactivity (AAR), sulphate attack, leaching (Figure 1), etc).<br />
• (ii) Physical and mechanical processes (thawing-freezing and drying-wetting cycles, cracking due to seismic actions or non-uniform foundation movements etc).<br />
• (iii) Biological processes (growth of plants in cracks, mussels etc).<br />
• (iii) Seepage in the foundation and the dam body (dissolution of material, weakening of conglomerate, change in uplift of the dam and the foundation resulting in changes in the stability of the dam and abutment).<br />
The ageing processes have to be followed by periodic visual inspections, tests and by monitoring of the dam, but not everything is visible or measurable.<br />
Dense frost-resistant concrete should have a very long service life. Concrete dams, which do not have any steel reinforcement, have a much longer service life than reinforced concrete structures exposed to weather. The oldest concrete dams are about 120 years old. Masonry dams can be much older and still be in service. However, these are usually low structures used in irrigation projects or for water supply.<br />
An extrapolation of concrete performance to 150 or 200 years is rather difficult as no reference projects exist. However, engineers have studied concrete mixes which would guarantee a very long life.<br />
A service life of up to 1000 years would be possible for concrete structures made of special (low-heat) cements and stable aggregates and without steel reinforcement. It is obvious that under ideal environmental conditions (temperature, humidity etc.) the life-span of a concrete dam can be very long. But at the same time, it can also be very short if some of the safety-relevant elements are no longer functioning properly.<br />
An example for uncontrolled safety decrease is the 272m high Enguri arch dam (the world’s highest arch dam) in Georgia, which was completed in 1984. Due to civil war in the 1990s, dam safety monitoring (cables and equipment were removed), dam maintenance and emergency plans no longer worked and within a few years it was not clear if the dam was still safe or not (Figure 2). Gates of bottom outlets were leaking, and due to a deficient grout curtain and the failure of pumps used for removing the drainage water, uplift pressure increased. Since then the safety of the dam has been re-established and a new dam monitoring system has been installed.<br />
Due to the many factors affecting the operational condition and environment of a dam, it is not possible to give a number for the remaining service life of existing dams. This has to be assessed periodically on a case-by-case study. Quite a few concrete dams may, however, require major rehabilitation, especially those showing signs of abnormal behaviour or AAR. Also, uncontrolled sedimentation may shorten the use of the reservoir and may block intakes but does not have a serious effect on the safety of the dam structure or its life-span as long as bottom outlets and spillway gates can still be operated properly. But sediment flushing can cause serious erosion in bottom outlets and sediment flushing tunnels, and sediments can damage turbines within a short period of time.<br />
Life-span of dams and components<br />
The service life of a well-designed, well-constructed and well-maintained and monitored embankment and concrete dams can easily reach 100 years. Hydromechanical elements such as gates and their motors have to be replaced after 30 to 50 years. The life-span of penstocks is 40 to 60 years (Figure 3).<br />
The service life of electro-mechanical equipment varies from 20 to 60 years (Table 1) and electronic control units and software may have to be exchanged as frequently as office computers as they may become technologically outdated and maintenance may no longer be available.<br />
A summary of service lives of structural elements and components of different hydro power plants are given by Giesecke and Mosonyi (2005).<br />
...<br />
Ageing also affects the foundation of a dam. With embankment dams these ageing processes can be more critical than with concrete dams because they are often founded on alluvial deposits or residual soils. Water flow through the foundation can result in strength changes over time. Particularly sensitive are clayey materials, but also rocks may reduce their strength. Water flow through the foundation can affect foundation permeability, dissolution of soluble rock, and leaching of grout curtains. Finally, seepage may wash out infilled joints or cause erosion in the soils of the foundation (especially with dispersive soils) leading to the formation of ‘pipes’. All these processes are usually very slow and only develop over a time span of many years.<br />
The foundation is as essential for the life-span of the dam structure as the structure itself. Maintenance of a foundation is by providing it with supplementary treatment, for example by reinforcing or extending the grout curtain or by replacing it with a positive or semi-positive cutoff, by installing relief wells or any other means of drainage depending on the actual situation and its requirements.<br />
Properly designed and constructed embankment dams can remain structurally stable and safe for centuries as long as they are not subjected to erosion processes. There are also a few landslide dams, which have blocked valleys for many years and remained stable, such as the 650m high Usoy dam in Tajikistan, which was formed by a massive landslide triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in 1911<br />
Embankment dams are most vulnerable to floods (Figure 5), internal erosion and seismic loading. However, a well-designed and maintained embankment dam is a very resilient structure and can also sustain extreme loading conditions. However, periodic safety assessments are indispensable as they will show what measures have to be taken to maintain or even extend the life-span. Deficiencies observed after commissioning must be rectified as early as possible.<br />
Conclusions<br />
The life-span of a dam is as long as proper maintenance can be guaranteed. This statement does not capture all aspects of safety, but it clearly indicates that a dam, which is safe at the time of completion, does not automatically remain safe. Unfortunately, quite a few dam owners still believe that a dam, which was safe at the time of its completion, will always remain safe. Some of them even abandon monitoring of the dam structure if instrumental data have remained the same for several years. Neglecting civil maintenance will unequivocally lead to a shortened life-span, which signifies an economic loss, and in a loss of confidence in the safety of dams by the affected people. Maintenance of the electro-mechanical and hydromechanical components is more common than civil maintenance as component failure and corrosion are more common phenomena, which have direct consequences, e.g. on the operation of the power plant. In the large dam structures internal deterioration and deficiencies are often not as readily visible as in the usually accessible hydromechanical and electro-mechanical components.<br />
In some cases the economical life of a storage project may be governed by other factures such as siltation of the reservoir, etc.<br />
Martin Wieland, Chairman, ICOLD Committee on Seismic Aspects of Dam Design; c/o Pöyry Energy Ltd., Hardturmstrasse 161, P.O. Box, CH-8037 Zurich, Switzerland, E-mail: martin.wieland@poyry.com<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Ponnoly Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052475508883117334noreply@blogger.com0