Led by Central Water Commission Executive Engineer Umberji Harish Girish, the five-member sub-committee, constituted by the Supreme Court-appointed High Power Supervisory Panel for Mullaperiyar dam, inspected the main dam and baby dam here on Saturday.
The committee took various readings, including inflow and discharge and seepage and storage levels.
Kerala representatives complained to the sub-committee that the chairman that the Tamil Nadu PWD did not inform them about the huge discharge from the dam when the level touched 142 feet. But Tamil Nadu representatives clarified that information about issuance of three flood warnings and time of discharge were informed to the officials concerned and the Idukki district administration well in advance. The Kerala team insisted that information should be given to them 12 hours in advance. The Tamil Nadu PWD officials agreed to their demand. The Tamil Nadu PWD officials did not raise the issue of Kerala Irrigation Minister P.J. Joseph and his supporters thronging the Periyar dam without permission recently. The water level in Periyar dam touched 141.3 feet with an inflow of 1,636 cusecs. The discharge was 2,100 cusecs this morning. Water release through 13 vents was stopped.
Kerala Irrigation Department Executive Engineer George Daniel, Kerala Irrigation Department Assistant Engineer N.S. Praseed, Tamil Nadu PWD Madurai Division Executive Engineer A. Madhavan and Sub-Divisional Officer R. Soundaram were present with the members of the committee.
