After a gap of 37 years, all the 13 shutters of surplus weirs were lowered in Periyar dam to increase the storage level from 136 feet to 142 feet.
This historic event took place amid firming up of a sub-committee comprising the representatives from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and a senior official of the Central Water Commission to be formed on August 1, to monitor the smooth implementation of the Supreme Court order on raising the storage level in the reservoir.
The three-member high power committee comprising its Chairman M.V.Nathan, Chief Engineer, Dam Safety Organisation, Central Water Commission and members M.V.Kurien, Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala and M.Saikumar, Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday inspected the Mullaperiyar dam and discussed the measures adopted by the Tamil Nadu government for raising the water level.
They also inspected the spillway shutters which were downed for raising the water level. Later, addressing the media persons after a meeting at Cardamom County, Mr. Nathan said that the Supreme Court order was final and the committee was to monitor its implementation in a smooth way satisfactory to the two States.
Mr. Nathan, also expressed satisfaction over the maintenance work done by the Tamil Nadu PWD engineers in the dam. The Chairman also questioned how the shutters would be raised when the level reached 142 feet. The Tamil Nadu officials operated the last shutter and explained its functions.
Mr. Nathan said that the Tamil Nadu team did the work as per guidelines of the Supreme Court and had lowered the shutters to raise the dam level.
Farmers burst crackers and distributed sweets to the people in Cumbum town to celebrate the occasion.
