KOCHI: The expert team of the State Government on Sunday collected the technical details and carried out the site inspection at Mullaperiyar dam for evolving proposals for dismantling the structure. The expert team led by Mullaperiyar cell chairman M K Parameswaran Nair carried out a one-day visit to the dam, based on which a report will be submitted before the state government by September 17.Irrigation Department chief engineer P Lathika, Inter-State Waters Advisory Council member M Sasidharan and James Wilson of the Mullaperiyar cell were part of the team which visited the dam. The team collected the details about the length, depth and the quantity of work involved in dismantling the dam. “Two options are currently under consideration - cutting a portion of the spillway and cutting the baby dam. The site inspection was carried out to find out the quantity of work involved in each of these plans. Based on the details collected we will carry out a comparative study. Then we will suggest either one or both proposals to be included in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be submitted before the Empowered Panel,” M K Parameswaran Nair said. Based on the study and site inspection the team will also assess the environmental impact of each of the proposals. The report regarding this will be finalised based on the findings by the Kerala Engineering Research Institute (KERI). One of the proposals before the government is to demolish only up to 94 ft, so that the structure can be used. Recently, the Empowered Panel on Mullaperiyar criticised the Kerala government for not submitting a response within the stipulated time on a query on what can be done with the existing dam. The panel also directed the state to submit the proposal within four weeks. Following which the state government officials met under Water Resources Minister P J Joseph. It was based on the decisions taken in this meeting that the expert team carried out site inspection on Sunday.
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