Dr.Rajan Gurukkal, Vice
Chancellor of the Mahatma
Gandhi University
recently stated that politics improves the intellectual level of a person.
Well, after whipping up emotions and creating a near panic situation in the
dispute with Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar Dam, the Kerala UDF leaders have
called off their agitation. The Communists and BJP who have become practically
their political partners are to continue the fight. The by-election to the
Kerala Assembly from Piravom is around the corner and they are hoping to get a
few more votes with this show.
The Mullaperiyar Dam was
built 116 years back at a height of about 3000 feet above sea level by the
British in what is now the Idukki District of Kerala. The purpose was to supply
water to the barren districts of Tamil Nadu adjoining the Western
Ghats. This is done through watershed cutting and tunnels and
pipes. Subsequently, power generation from the diverted water was also taken
up.
Actually it was one man’s
dedication that made the dam a reality – Major John Pennycuick whom the Madras
Presidency Governor had put in charge of the project. But after two coffer dam
failures the government withdrew financial support to the plan.
Pennycuick did not give up
though. It is said that he sold his estate in England and his wife’s jewellery to
fund the construction of the dam. One product that flowed without water then
was the local hooch, arrack, which the workers consumed to keep away malaria.
In spite of that hundreds of them died of the disease.
When completed, the dam was
considered to be one of the great engineering feats performed by man. A large
area of Tamil Nadu – Theni, Madurai,
Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts - started receiving ample supply of
water. That changed the lives of the people of those places and Pennycuick
became a god to them.
By Jayeshj. Published under
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Unported license.
|
By Captain. Published under
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Unported license.
|
At least one temple was
dedicated to the Englishman. Pongal is celebrated for him in some areas. His
portrait is revered in many homes and shops. Children are named after him.
There is also a place called Pennycuick Peravai. The government put up Pennycuick’s
statue in Madurai.
When this engineer’s great grandson visited the area in 2002, thousands
gathered to welcome and honour him. The people of Tamil Nadu have a deep
attachment to Mullaperiyar Dam and Pennycuick. One has to be sensitive to that
affection.
In 1886 the Travancore Sate
and the British signed a 999 year lease agreement for giving the latter 8000
acres of land for the reservoir and 100 acres for the dam for rent of Rs.40000
per year. This contract became void when India attained independence. After
years of negotiation, a new agreement was signed between Kerala and Tamil Nadu
in 1970. In that the lease rates were increased to Rs.1 million. Kerala now wants
this agreement to be modified.
Kerala’s concern is that the
old dam made using stone rubble masonry has weakened mainly because of age and
the earthquakes in the area and might burst. If that happens there would be
colossal loss of human lives and existing development in Kerala. The movie Dam 999 (which is banned in TN) I
believe (haven’t seen it) shows the havoc a dam burst can cause. We know that
during World War II the British developed a special type of bomb to demolish
two German dams so that the industries downstream would be washed away. The
famous 1955 British movie, The Dam
Busters shows the details.
Fears about the safety of
Mullaperiyar Dam arose in Kerala in 1979 when Macchu – 2 Dam near Morvi town in
Gujarat burst due to incessant rains. It is
estimated that about 15000 to 25000 people died in that tragedy. From 1990
there have been several earthquakes in Idukki District which could have
affected the strength of the dam. Kerala says there have been twenty two
earthquakes. According to TN, there have been only four. But the Central
Government states that there have been sixteen tremors and the dam is in
earthquake prone area.
What Kerala wants is to
construct a new dam downstream and till that is completed to reduce the storage
level at Mullaperiyar to 120 feet from the present 136 feet. Kerala also
promises to provide TN as much water as they are getting now, from the new dam.
But what the price of water would be and how the new structure is to be
financed and managed is not clear. The present dam, though it is in Kerala is
operated and maintained by TN.
Kerala Government is
absolutely justified in its concern for the safety of its people. But the way
the present government has gone about it is counter productive. The antics and
one-upmanship by the Kerala parties over the issue have provoked the Tamilians.
Keralites are at the losing end and further problems could arise for people
living in Kerala and those Keralites in TN. Going into details would make this
a long essay. As the Supreme Court said, “Both parties, instead of dousing the
fire, are adding fuel to it.”
This sort of matters should have
been discussed quietly and a reasonable agreement reached before publicising
it. Perhaps negotiations should have started in 1990. What is the solution now?
The Supreme Court? The Prime Minister or the President?
Somebody should put across
to TN one basic point. A dam burst would be a one time tragedy for Kerala. But all the areas in TN which have
prospered with water from Mullaperiyar would become barren again.
Click on the photos to enlarge.
All pictures from Wikimedia Commons.
■
Also please see Remembering
grandfather. There may be a connection..
5 comments:
but I am very sure that if this dam was in TN, it would have been decommissioned many years back and a new one built....
Sadly, the politicians in Kerala may never rise up to the situation.
Happy Kitten, thank you.
You are right. Actually, the Kerala politicians have made a mess of the matter. The estimate is that there are 3.5 million Malayalees staying in TN. Many of them have heavy investment or good jobs. They are in trouble now.
The Kerala Congress leaders under the false impression that if they agitate and build a new dam at Mullaperiyar all the people of Idukki District would join them, Ignited passions and then when Keralites got hammered and their
properties destroyed in Tamilnadu ran for cover.
Not to be out done it was the game of one-up-man-ship that pulled the other political parties too into the vortex.
Had the national and regional parties showed maturity and
restraint they would have been spared of the egg that has fallen on the face of Kerala Congress.
It was rather strange that the usually militant left cadres too turned a blind eye when Tamilians started to vent their fury.
Kerala and Keralites have learned their lesson the hard way, that they need the Tamilians and Tamilnadu more than they need Kerala and Keralites.
Boldness and heroism of Keralites
stop at the Kerala boarders.
Good comment, Nebu. But I don't know whether you are right in saying Kerala and Keralites have learned their lesson. I doubt whether they will ever learn.
Any Structural Expert will tell you if the structure has inherent weakness will come down with or without any notice the next day if not the next moment. It does not need an iota of assumptions & presumptions either positive or negative from a layman or even of an expert IITian. Why our politicians do not understand this as a basic problem with a fundamental entities in a business of serving the people. There are many structures older than this. Also suppose, age of a patient even by the best of the Global Doctor's be assessed and defines as say 25years for any reason, it does not mean he should leave this beautiful world at the end of 25th year because of his certification. But by appropriate medication and strengthening the same its likely, his chance to survive more can always be exploited.. If the Doctor wants and insist to hang for certifying his certificate then it's a different case..
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