The three-member apex committee and five-member subcommittee constituted for the smooth implementation of the Supreme Court order raising the Mullaperiyar water level to 142 ft. visited the dam on Monday.
They collected the samples of water seepage though the dam.
L.A.V. Nathan, heading the panel, told reporters that the seepage of water had increased by 20 litres a minute during the last 10 days after the dam water rose in the monsoon rain.
However, he said there was no need for any concern as the dam was safe and the seepage was within the permissible limit. The sub committee had conducted an inspection of the dam on September 5 when the reading was about 70 litres a minute.
Members representing Tamil Nadu in the sub committee boycotted the meeting after Kerala specified that the seepage level should be entered into the minutes and the State should also get the details of the seepage water level in the past which was taken by the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department.
The demand was said to be rejected by the Tamil Nadu representatives and the meeting ended abruptly. Mr. Nathan said that it was decided that the chemical examination of the water seeping through the dam would be carried out.
The committee decided to invite the Kerala State Electricity Board and Forest Department officials to the next meeting on October 20 to discuss issues of laying a road to the dam through the forest and providing electricity connection in the dam area. Tamil Nadu’s representative at the last visit to Mullaperiyar dam Madhavan was replaced from the five-member subcommittee with Rajesh, Superintending Engineer, Vaigai River Basin division, Madurai.
