The Tamil Nadu government will start the process of improving the baby dam in Mullaperiyar by January and take measures to raise the level to 152 feet subsequently, senior officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) said here.
On the sidelines of the 31 Dr. M.Visveswaraya Memorial Lecture here on Saturday, the PWD officials, on condition of anonymity, said the department, which was in-charge of the maintenance of the Mullaperiyar dam, would begin the improvement work on the baby dam to facilitate more storage.
Asked about the dam issue, Central Water Commission chairman A.B. Pandya, the chief guest, said water was stored at 142 feet as per the direction of the Supreme Court.
“An expert committee has been formed and we will proceed as per the court directions,” he said. A Dam Safety Legislation is also under consideration, he said.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Pandya said the CWC has initiated a survey to check the impact of sedimentation, particularly in old dams, as siltation was a major concern. A hydro-graphic survey was also being done on a sample basis.
A GIS-based probable maximum precipitation atlas for river basins would be launched soon to assess flood risk and tackle emergency situations.
A book on Mullaperiyar authored by R. Subramanian, chairman, Cauvery Technical Cell, was launched.
The PWD also launched a GIS based website that will serve as an inventory of tanks across the State.
