World over the tendency is to react after the tragedy strike rather than take precautionary or preventive measures. Serious tragedy is now waiting in southern part of India, which is largely neglected by local activists or international bodies strangely enough even the judiciary of India. I am talking about Mullaperiyar Dam which is threatening the life of over thirty five lakh of people living in the downstream. This ancient dam for which the builder estimated a life of fifty years has already passed its expiry date by another 66 years and has become a disputed territory between two South Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
This dam has a height of 54 meters (177 feet) and a basement of 44.2 meters (145 feet). It is built with a mixture of Lime stone and mortar. The area where the Dam situated has experienced minor tremors quiet recently which has raised serious concern among people living in the state of Kerala.
While looking at the history of this Dam was constructed over the headwaters of the Periyar River in 1895 in southern Indian state of Kerala, India. The dam was leased to Indian Secretory of State while Travancore or the then Kerala Royal Government was ruling over this premises in the year of 1886. The lease was for a whopping 999 years period. The lease was signed by the then king Vishakam Thirunal of Travancore and State Secretary of Madras State which was under British rule. The lease was made under tremendous and constant pressure on the king by the British almost for over 24 years. The lease indenture inter alia granted full right, power and liberty to construct, make and carry out on the leased land and to use exclusively when constructed, made and carried out all such irrigation works and other works ancillary there to Secretary of State for Tamil Nadu which was part of then India under British rule. The agreement was to give 8000 acres of land for the reservoir and another 100 acres to construct the dam. The dam is now operated by the Government of Tamil Nadu under the so called lease agreement made during erstwhile British colonial rule.
This is currently holding the status of a water bomb threatening the life of millions of population and its seriousness is highlighted neither by the Government of India nor by international Human Right activists. Shall we remain silent until the worst tragedy strikes at one of the most beautiful land in the world hailed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top 50 places of the world to visit?
It is the question of life for a large population and their property. The issue had been focus for national media in India for sometime, But I am quiet surprised why world human right bodies and environmentalists are not raising their voice on this issue. It shall not remain a local issue anymore. Lives of people are precious and it is at stake and no one should be allowed to take them on ransom. Aftermath international aids are going to be useless.
India is capable of resolving the most complicated issues on its own despite its vast ethnic, regional and topographical diversity and its track records are very much admired all over the world. At the same time, as the world is becoming more and more smaller, issues which could have very large devastating effects on humanity is a subject everyone need to share and the real concern of the people living under stress should be addressed globally which could enable the national leaders to think beyond their political aspirations. This post is intended to bring the concern of a large population to a bigger audience whom may help bring some consolation and guidance for the authorities concerned on wider options to resolve the worst fears people undergo now as any action delayed on the subject could become catastrophic .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullaperiyar_Dam
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE6T61uB9t4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTm1nsrMyZM&hd=1
