The Full Commission of the National Human Rights Commission will hear on Monday a petition filed by some Kerala MPs alleging a “threat to life and liberty” of the people of the State and seeking its intervention in the Mullaperiyar dam row.
The MPs, including P.T. Thomas and K.P. Dhanapalan (both Congress) and Jose K. Mani (Kerala Congress-M), claimed that the entire State was panic-stricken over the possible collapse of the 116-year-old dam constructed with lime and surki .
“Four districts are under severe threat and millions of people will be washed away if the dam collapses if there is an earthquake of high intensity and their lives should be saved.”
The Commission is also likely to hear another petition filed by Kerala-based journalist Mathew Samuel, alleging that the dam in a seismic zone was a dormant water bomb ready to explode, posing a serious threat to the lives of 35 lakh people in five districts of Kerala and its flora and fauna. People living in the area were in constant fear of an imminent deluge.
Mr. Samuel alleged that the Union of India, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were playing with the lives of the hapless people, arguing about technicalities and impediments of the law and without coming forward with any concrete formula or disaster management plan. He pointed out that 26 earthquakes had already occurred in this area.
“In the event of a catastrophe, the deluge would spell doom for an estimated 2.5 million inhabitants downstream and with an outdated dam standing against the ever increasing water level and torrential rain, this nightmare may turn into a reality anytime. The Union Government, as the custodian of life and safety of the citizens, was not discharging its duties,” he said.
Mr. Samuel sought a direction to the Defence Ministry to ensure the safety of the residents and/or a direction to the National Disaster Management Authority to prepare an action plan to meet any eventuality downstream of the Periyar river and take immediate steps to remove the fear of the residents.
The Central Soil and Materials Research Station, New Delhi, should be asked to place before the Commission the details and outcome of its study on the dam, he said.
