The Mullaperiyar Special Cell chaired by former Kerala State Electricity Board member and dam safety expert M.K. Parameswaran Nair has stressed the need for implementing the twin-Kallar multipurpose scheme in the Achencoil and the Pampa on a priority basis to counter the Pampa-Achencoil-Vaipar River Link Project.
Mr. Nair is of the view that diversion of the Pampa and Achencoil waters to the Vaipar basin of Tamil Nadu would prejudicially affect the rights and interests of Kerala and the population residing in the downstream region.
In his report submitted to the Water Resources Department in 2009, Mr. Nair says the proposed twin-Kallar scheme is the only feasible project in these two rivers which can cater to various needs of the river basins.
The scheme is a moderate storage scheme with an installed capacity of 60 MW (2x30 MW) and a gross water storage of 296 mcm, which will cater to the summer needs of the Achencoil river, ultimately benefiting the Kuttanad region. Experts say that the moderate storage, while maintaining the quantity of water for summer requirement, allows the much-needed spilling of the reservoir during monsoon period.
The scheme is also an ideal proposal which eliminates excessive flooding and at the same time allows moderate flooding, which is much-needed for the Kuttanad region. The needy farmers of Kuttanad will be benefited by the project since it can irrigate a gross area of 35,130 ha.
