The district administration has asked the people of the district not to panic over the safety concerns emanating from the state of the Mullaperiyar dam.
District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed said that the administration is fully geared to ensure the safety of the people in the event of a crisis. Heads of various departments in the district attended a meeting convened to discuss the issue on Monday.
Irrigation department officials described the present situation of the dams in the district. The water level in the Idamalayar dam has risen to 90 per cent. Full capacity utilisation of the dam will be possible if the water level rises by another 5 per cent.
At present, only one generator is operating at the dam. Mr. Pareed had asked the dam authorities to provide advance information through the media if the outflow of water from the dam is to be increased. The outflow from lower Periyar is under control.
While admitting that a disaster at Mullaperiyar will have far reaching consequences for the district, the Collector assured the people that there is nothing to worry as of now. He urged the people not to be taken in by scare mongering and speculation.
Mr. Pareed said the State government had given adequate instructions to the district authorities. He said that all arrangements had been taken for rehabilitating people in the event of a rise in the water level in the Periyar.
The Collector asked taluk and village-level offices under the revenue department to be on constant alert.
Additional District Magistrate E.K. Sujatha; Assistant Collector Bhandari Swagath Ranbeer Chand; Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) P. Indiradevi; Fort Kochi Revenue Divisional Officer S. Shanavas; Assistant Commissioners of Police Amos Maaman and George Pius; and irrigation department executive engineers K.V. Joly and Harinarayan attended the meeting.
