Led by Central Water Commission Executive Engineer Umberji Harish Girish, the five-member sub-committee, constituted by the Supreme Court-appointed High Power Supervisory Panel for Periyar Dam, assessed the situation to start the strengthening work in baby dam.
It will submit a report to the Supreme Court panel before its scheduled visit on February 20. As usual, Kerala members expressed concern over seepage level in the baby dam and main dam.
The State PWD officials asked them to extend their cooperation in strengthening the dam as early as possible.
They also appealed to give top priority for laying the road connecting Periyar dam and Vallakadavu to transport construction materials to the dam site.
A path connecting the baby dam and main dam should also be re-laid for undertaking strengthening work.
The team spent a long time in the baby dam, according to PWD sources.
Kerala engineers decided to raise the seepage issue before the three-member panel led by L.A.V. Nathan.
The State PWD team will commence strengthening work after scheduled visit of the panel on February 20. After strengthening the baby dam, the engineers from Tamil Nadu would raise the storage level to 152 feet, sources added.
Proposal submitted
The PWD had submitted a proposal for strengthening baby dam at an estimated cost of Rs.5 crore. The committee went to the dam on road through Vallakadavu to avoid unnecessary tussle with forest officials.
The committee members, including Kerala Irrigation Department Executive Engineer George Daniel, Kerala Irrigation Department Assistant Engineer N.S. Praseed, TN PWD Executive Engineer A. Madhavan and Sub-Divisional Officer R. Soundaram accompanied the chairman.
