AG’s removal sought for his remarks on Mullaperiyar

Monday, December 05, 2011: The KPCC today sought the removal of Advocate General KP Dandapani for his statement before the Kerala High Court that if the Mullaperiyar dam gives way the Kulamavu, Cheruthoni and Idukki dam can easily contain the excess water and that there is no relation between water level and the safety of the dam.
This request was put forward by P.J Kurian during the KPCC committee meeting here on Monday. AG’s statement on Mullaperiyar has snowballed into a major controversy and has put the government in a fix.
The Advocate General clarified the statement later after being pulled by the Chief Minister who along with the Revenue Minister K.M. Mani disowned the stand taken by him, but the damage was already done. Mani opined that the stand taken by the Advocate General had relation to the facts.
The Advocate General while pleading the case had informed the court that even if the Mullaperiyar dam met with a disaster the water can be contained by Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams. His contention was that dam safety is not related to water level and it was the age of the dam and the quakes in the region that is threatening the structure.
Kerala government had been running virtually from pillar to post to have the Tamil Nadu government agree for a reduction in water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam because of safety concerns. This was the major argument that the state was placing before the Centre, the court and the Tamil Nadu government for ensuring safety of people and property down stream.