The first inspection of the Mullaperiyar dam by the newly formed oversight committee, established as per the Supreme Court’s directive, will be conducted today. The seven-member team, led by Anil Jain, the chairman of the National Dam Safety Authority, will visit the dam. In addition to representatives from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the team includes a research officer from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru, and an official from the National Disaster Management Authority, Delhi.
The team will reach the dam by boat in the morning, and after completing the inspections, they will hold a meeting at the Mullaperiyar office in Kumily in the afternoon to assess the situation. This committee is responsible for conducting necessary inspections before and during the monsoon season.
The Mullaperiyar dam was constructed to supply irrigation and drinking water to five districts in southern Tamil Nadu. Construction began in 1886 under the supervision of British engineer John Pennycuick, using a mixture of surkhi and black stone.
On October 10, 1895, at 6 PM, the Madras Governor officially commissioned the dam by releasing water. The water from Mullaperiyar is transported through canals over a distance of 125 kilometers. Although the dam was originally built with a lifespan of 50 years, it has now completed 129 years, making it a cause of concern for millions of people in Kerala.
