I am no scientist. Nor am I someone in power who can take decisions that can affect the cause of a society. But I am a common man, a resident of Kerala who has all the rights to voice my opinion about the on-going issue over Mullaperiyar Dam.
This is the first time I am blogging about a social issue, and as much I like to keep my views intact and leave the decision making to the legislation & the people in power; I believe I have a responsibility to collect appropriate knowledge about a fear-psychosis that's being generated through media, social network and even in parliament.
I was petrified when I heard about the consequences that would prevail if this dam gets destroyed due to a natural disaster like earthquake. So, I went ahead & did a research on this matter and crystal clearly understood that, if a tremor of a reading of 6 or more in the richter scale occurs anywhere near Edukki district in Kerala, the dam will get destroyed bombing a giant stream of water that would swipe away thousands of households in a diameter reaching as far as districts of Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam & Alleppey which in turn can take away at least 3 million human lives.
The picture gives a geographical idea of the effect of this on the Indian Map.
Now, there arises a question of whether or not such a high scaled earthquake can happen around this area. But the truth is, in 2011 only there has been 26 tremors recorded in & around Idukki district scaling up to 4.5 in the richter scale. Even the panel of scientists who inspected the dam recently has reported on the cracks being as wide as a fist to enter. So the "Keeping fingers crossed" phrase is absolutely blunderous in such a situation.
Having said that, there is a law suit that has been in the Supreme Court for as long as 13 years now, regarding the issue of TamilNadu wanting to raise the water storage level from 136 to 142 ft so as to fulfill their necessities. But the then Kerala Govt. had alarmed the legislation about the 113 year old dam being unable to hold that much water and even then, after 11 years of expecting a critical justice; all the Supreme Court could do was to refer this case to a Constitutional Bench.
Since the case is still pending in the court, its disappointing to say the least, that neither the PM nor the constitution is hurrying on a verdict especially when the situation has almost triggered a panic amongst the residents in Kerala which includes the Tamil diaspora as well. Its only coincidental that a movie like Dam999 (where the no.999 refers to the no. of years in the lease agreement that Kerala has agreed to give water to Tamilnadu) released on the verge of this appalling possibility of a huge massacre strikes the minds of common man in Kerala. Its strange that people who made that contract must have known that this dam mostly consisting of surki and lime wouldn't withstand the test of times for even more than a century.
But, on the contrary, one positive to come out of this issue is that for the first time I am seeing all Malayalis coming together and uniting for a cause. Even the political parties from Kerala have shed their difference in ideologies at least for once to fight for the justice for the people of Kerala.
Its great to
Its great to
see the ever growing unity prevailing on the web, in the media and even to an extent of supporting a Hartal with utmost maturity of making a statement to the concerned authority at the centre to make them realize that they should no more play the game of passing the responsibility of decision making within the constitution & legislation.
The ultimate slogan for this cause has become "Water for TamilNadu, Safety for Kerala".
Its evident that there's only one solution that is to rebuild the Mullaperiyar Dam and do it ASAP!!!
If the Head of a nation is not in power to intervene at a crisis situation like this and make the right decision before its too late; then what is it there for??!!!
I, like many have still not lost hope and plead & pray for the earliest righteous decision to be taken in this matter.
Otherwise, we could go back to the clichéd saying of "Justice delayed is Justice denied".
- Dilse...K
