Lok Sabha Question No. 698 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-02
Subject: UN Report on Mullaperiyar Dam
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Hibi Eden, Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 698

ANSWERED ON 02.12.2021

## UN REPORT ON MULLAPERIYAR DAM

## 698. SHRI HIBI EDEN SHRI ANTO ANTONY

## Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the report of an international institute under United Nations (UN) according to which the Mullaperiyar Dam in Idukki district of Kerala is the sixth oldest dam in the world and is in danger, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government in this regard;

(b) whether there is any mechanism to study and evaluate the strength of existing dams of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is any plans to improve dam safety of Mullapperiyar dam of Kerala and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any dam safety audit has been conducted for Mullaperriyar dam and other dams of Kerala, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) whether the Government plans to decommision any existing dams of Kerala, if so the details thereof and steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)  There is a report titled 'Ageing Water Storage Infrastructure: An Emerging Global Risk' published in the 11th Series Report of United Nations University-Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNUINWEH).  The  said  report  has  mentioned  about  certain  safety  concerns  of  the   Mullaperiyar  dam.

(b)  Yes, Sir. Through inspections, investigations, tests and studies, the health of a dam can be evaluated. Various instruments, which are installed in the dam provide relevant information on the safety conditions of a dam. Pre and Post monsoon inspections are generally carried out by the dam owning agencies every year.

(c)  As per information available with Central Water Commission (CWC), in 1979 some distress condition was reported in the Mullaperiyar dam. Thereafter the CWC suggested certain categories of strengthening measures viz. emergency measures, short term measures and long term measures. The emergency and short term measures were completed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

(d)  Yes, Sir. Safety issues of the Mullaperiyar dam have been examined and reviewed by various expert groups/committees in the past.  The safety issues of this dam were examined under the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case Original Suit No. 3 of 2006 [State of Tamil Nadu versus State of  Kerala  &  Anr.],  through  an  Empowered  Committee.  The  Empowered  Committee  concluded  that  the Mullaperiyar dam was safe in all respects, viz., hydrologically, structurally and seismically and this fact was taken cognizance of in the Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgement dated  07.05.2014.

Also  under  the  World  Bank  funded  Dam  Rehabilitation  and  Improvement  Project  (DRIP),  which was concluded in March 2021, dam safety inspections were carried out for 28 dam projects of Kerala by the Dam Safety Review Panel, constituted by the Government of Kerala.

(e)   No, Sir. Commissioning or de-commissioning of dams owned by State Governments is exclusively within the purview of the dam owning State.

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