Tamil Nadu Hits Back At Kerala, Says Regular Warnings On Water Levels Were Given

Hitting back at Kerala, the Tamil Nadu government has said that it had given regular warnings on the water levels in the contentious Mullaperiyar Dam on the Periyar river in the Idukki district of Kerala.

Kerala had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that Tamil Nadu delayed the release of water for too long, thus resulting in excess water reaching the Idukki dam downstream that led to the floods. Tamil Nadu however, has refuted the allegations, saying it issued regular warnings when the water level crossed 136 ft, 138 ft, 140 ft, 141 ft and finally 142 ft when it released the water.

Tamil Nadu’s affidavit went on to say that Kerala had opened up all its dams in the starting of August while the Mullaperiyar was opened only on 14 August, thus making the quantum of water from the latter very small. The water released from the Idukki and Idamalayar dams prior to 14 August was more than the water released from the Mullaperiyar dam.