Hundreds of people, including farmers, picketed the Theni-Kumuli highway at Goodalur and Lower Camp since 8 a.m. on Monday in protest against Kerala's stand on the Mullaperiyar dam issue. A long line of vehicles were stranded on the three-km-long stretch of the highway.
Local people burnt the effigy of Kerala Chief Minister Oomman Chandy at three places in the town. One police constable and two agitators sustained burns in the incident. The agitators did not allow any vehicle to cross Goodalur. Vehicles transporting milk, vegetables and other perishable goods to Kerala were blocked and sent back. Even autorickshaws were not allowed to cross the town limits.
Similar picketing was held on Cumbum Mettu Road. Police personnel, deployed in large numbers, struggled to bring the situation under control. The worst affected were Sabarimala pilgrims as hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the road side between Goodalur and Veerapandi. Many started to return home as no one knew when the road block would come to an end. A private school in Goodalur was closed in the afternoon.
An unidentified gang threw stones at two vans that transported Tamil Nadu farm workers to Kerala for estate work near the Kumuli check-post in the early hours of Monday. (Over 5,000 workers go to Kerala every day from Theni district to work in cardamom estates.) Farmers said that more than one lakh litres of milk was transported daily to Kerala from Theni.
Tension spread to Cumbum town in the afternoon. An unruly mob pelted with stones some shops and hotels on the Cumbum main road. A finance firm, a hotel and a few shops were attacked. All shops downed their shutters. Eyewitnesses said agitators with lethal weapons were roaming on the road.
Local people alleged that a group of women workers were blocked by a gang in Kerala. The police negotiated their release.
The police also secured some members of the Vivasaya Munnetra Munnani, who attempted to block a bus near the railway gate.
Collector K.S. Palanisamy, in a special law and order meeting, advised the police to beef up security in Cumbum Mettu, Bodi Mettu and the Kumuli border. The situation would be under control soon at Goodalur.
Police had been deployed in Cumbum town also, the Collector added.
I can't understand why TN is opposing the construction of a new dam at mullaperiyar. Initially I thought that it is unfair to deny water to lakhs of poor farmers in 5 districts of TN who use the water drawn from mullaperiyar for irrigation which in turn produces vegeables,fruits etc of which Kerala is major consumer. But since Kerala has agreed to supply the same quantity of water which is currently available to them during and after construction of new dam, then why this chaos from TN?? Kerala has never denied water for TN, but it is only concerned about the safety of this dam. True that a lot of reinforcements has been done to strenghten the dam, but how far it is successful?? or for how long?? Sir Pennycuick who is the master mind behind this surki based structure had predicted a life span of 50 years, and right now the dam has survived more than double the predicted. The comparison drawn with Kal anai dam is meaningless since it is much smaller and is located in non-seismic zone
No human-built structure is going to last 100s of years... let alone a
thousand years... that means at some point in time the dam has to be
decommissioned anyway. Why aren't people realising that...
First of all the matter went to Supreme court and it has given a order.
Does the state of Kerala concern that? Is any sense in claiming 30 laks 40 laks will die on earth quake and dam damage? What is the capacity of mullai periyaar dam 15 tmc. What is idukki dam capacity 70 tmc. If 40 laks people will die with 15 tmc dam. then how many will die in 70 tmc dam? Can we remove idukki dam too?
It is very evident and everybody know the motive of new dam sologans.
Mullai dam is not in plain ground and water came out to do harmful effects to anybody. We also have dam in mettur thats is in plain ground level. if that dam breaks then the damage means one can accept.
If new dam is needed then why SC suggest that. We the people of Thamilnadu ready to built new dam in the same ground with our money. Kerala need not to spend their money ( everybody knows the money is loan MONEY - even to Govt of India).
None of the kerala claims are true or based on evidence. Their ill mind set is revealed.
Tamil politicians argue 116 year old dam is safe. But what about
earthquake ( it is in zone 3). Study by IIT Roorki & IIT Delhi shows it
is in dangerous condition. If anything happens 40 lack Kerala people
will die( districts of Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, kottayam paththanam
thitta).5 districts of TN will not get any water after that calamity.
Think about people living under fear about a disaster. be human
first..keep your dirty politics later..
i am not going to make any comments on the dispute here but rather i
would blame the central for not making water resources nationalized
when forming the constitutions. these are natural resources and they
have. for people who posted comments about Tamil Nadu attitude, have
you ever starved for water. has any farmer in your place consumed rats
for living just because there was no water for irrigation. if you see
through all these so called attitude of Tamil Nadu started with
Karnataka due to Cauvery and with Andra Pradesh due to Krishna. we are
in a pitied situation due to negligence of the past leaders not
nationalizing the natural resources. Mr Rijo, yes you have been
generous for 115 years by providing water, but be clear that Tamil
Nadu has been feeding kerala with rice for all these days. so the
water you gave is not just for benifit for tamil nadu you have enjoyed
the ripe (ofcourse both for money).atleast now as grownups and Indians
lets all think about Nationalization of rivers
An appeal to TN and Kerala govt - Some problems are not really problems. Solution to them are very simple. It sometimes just requires cool mind and a amicable talk.
Kindly ensure problem is not thrown out of proportion. Its sometimes just how you look at it. A glass half empty is same as a glass half full!!!
You are our representatives. We believe you together with able minds in form of experts and SC nominated teams have ability to make best decision possible. Be it Water or Safety, remember it is "for the people" who live under your administration. Other folks (leaders who seldom even win a seat), Dont misuse situation, kindly shut up and let peace prevail.
Yes, I know this wont happen. So an appeal to people of TN and Kerala, please dont listen to inflammatory speeches. Lets love respect and take care of each other. Lets be the arm that feed each other. We need water, we need dairy product and vegetable, we need safety, we need peace, we need electricity. Why a "You" and "I"
Tamil Nadu doesn't have a problem with its neighbouring states. Its just the neighbouring states are having issues with it. One must not forget that Tamil Nadu supplies electric power to Karnataka and Kerala, while it is still being deprived of water from Cauvery (and periyar soon). It is not surprising that Keralites are opposing it with such vigour, as they are used to it since their college elections. The whole world knows that mallus protest first and reason next. Its evident that the dam has suffered damages, but the fear of losing out water seems to worry TN, and they are just making out stories to avoid losses. Both parties are to fault with, but its unfair to accuse TN alone for the situation. Kerala should think first and TN must act first.
The Tamil nadu's stand that the dam is absolutely safe is an utter absurdness and challenging the generosity which is being shown by Kerala by giving water for past 115 years for drinking, irrigation and for generating electricity. The Kerala is not against for giving water to TN but only concerned about the lives of 3.5 million people which is definite if the 115 year old dam continue to be in service with this hight of water level. Why can't the TN take out the water beyond 120 feet from the Mullaperiyar dam and keep the same in some reservoirs built in lower area of TN so that they can utilise it according to their will and wish and the safety of the Keralites can also be met ? Similarly the Kerla government's plan to construct a new dam which will in no way benefitted to Kerala (and meet the requirement of the Tamil nadu only) with the money of Kerala (which will cost ten thousands of crores) and putting all the burden on the shoulders of the people of Kerala is also not genuine.
Tamilnadu is playing with the lives of 10 lakhs people in kerala.if the dam breaks,it will affect people in both states with dire consequence.why don't you act instead of playing politics in the interest of political leaders?
The problem with the state of Tamil Nadu is that it thinks its above the sovereignty and integrity of India. Tamil Nadu had been a belligerent state ever since its creation from Madras Presidency. While all the states in southern India are friendly Tamil Nadu remains isolated, being mainly its attitude. It has problem with Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh. One state is not supposed to boss over the other state as every state has the same level of status in India. Now Jaya has to realise the effects of intimidating the people of Kudankulam an unwanted issue just to take political vendetta against the ruling government at the Centre.Jaya has been always a problem, whenever she has ruled, threatening the neighbours, not respecting the parliament etc.. If the roles are reversed in the case of Mullaiperiyar, Tamil Nadu, would have built the dam long back ago.
My dear Radhakrishnan, I dont understand you neither do I understand the politicians of TN who are afraid Keralites will intentionally damage the DAM, I mean that is the whole point here right ?. If the DAM breaks I along with the 35 lakhs or so people will die and what would be the point of constructing a new DAM using Kerala government funds. If the current DAM breaks then that is the end of this crisis as it affects kerala and the beginnine of the crisis for the 100 lakh of farmers in TN. There will not be any more offers on the plate, there will never be a dam built in Mullapperiyar after that, Do you doubt it ?
Having said that I dont trust the Politicians in Kerala as well very much when they hanker for access to a 600 crore fund, my question would be how much of it is going to line their pockets. The inflammatory speeches made by members of ruling party are plain irresponsible and I for one wish that Supreme court does issue a Gag order on the Congress Ministers in Kerala.
Kerala is exposed by their own DG and now he will be thrown out and another kerala politicians stooge will be brought in to prolong this figtht. Kerala minions attacking the dam to cause damaage every day and stopping the tamilnadu PWD from operating the dam.Hats off to CPI politburo for atleast considering that there are lakhs of people who will die out of starvation and no produce. Mullaiperiaru was built on Stone slabs with indegenous concrete, this is a super strong way to hold a structure and has proved in kalanai in tanjore, this operates through weight and is the basis of the gravity dam, and also to further strengthen three measures were suggested when the last stalemate happened on this dam 30 years before,The enitre dam was strengthened with concrete with piling 10 meter below and since it is a gravity based dam, the top was strengthened by super heavy concrete. Additional counter measurse of swing beams withe high tensile steel string clusters were put across 1200ft dam wall
TN has objected to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant despite it having
world class safety standards. Dont the people of Kerala have the right
to be concerned about a 115 year old dam?
Since Kerala has guaranteed same level of water with a new safe dam, why is the objection from TN? Will TN take the same risk in Kudankulam nuclear plant? And why ban Dam999 movie? It does not have anything more than the Tsunami shown in Kamal hassan's Dashavataram. The land of the great Thiruvalluvar should not fear a movie script. If tsunami can hit kadaloor and coastal TN, why cant a dam break and hit kochi? Tamil Nadu is seen as a belligerent state - by Karnataka and now by Kerala with which the relationship is historic. In any case this dam is not going to last 900 years more. So better to allow it now with a water share deal rather than it breaking at some point in the near or far future and kerala not giving one drop of water from the new one that they will construct there.
Blocking vehicles will increase the tension. TN has also informed the Supreme Court about mob vandalism at the dam site, damaging the gate of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board facility on December 3. TN has also reported that on December 4, certain elements marched to the dam from Vallakadavu in Kerala with an earth-moving machine and other implements with the intention of letting out water and damaging the dam.Even before filing this petition, it was suspected that minor cracks were artificially caused by the personnel who are guarding the dam. Is there any wicked intention to break the dam, since an earth-moving machine was found at the site? Like Babri-Masjid, the dam must not be demolished by mobs.Once broken, there will be no more hurdle to build a new dam as planned by Kerala.
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