Tamil Nadu says Mullaperiyar dam safe, seepage will be plugged

Chennai, Nov 21 : The Tamil Nadu government Saturday reiterated the safety of Mullaperiyar dam to the union government, refuting the Kerala government's allegation of water seepage.

In a letter to the secretary, union ministry of water resources, Tamil Nadu's Principal Secretary (Public Works Department) S. Ramasundaram Saturday said the state government had deputed a team of engineers from the Dam Directorate twice to inspect and assess the condition of Mullaperiyar dam.

"The team has reported to this government that the seepage was 58.46 litres per minute when the water level in the dam was 135.10 ft. This quantity of seepage is below the permissible limits," Ramasundaram has written.

He said the inspection team found the bitumen provided in the construction joints 17 and 18 had slightly come out due to weathering over the years.

"This will be repaired under regular maintenance and there will not be any wetting / dampness in the dam thereafter," he assured in the letter.

Citing the inspection team's report Ramasundaram has said the main dam, baby dam and the surplus arrangements in the Mullaperiyar dam are all functioning well and are safe.