Kozhikode: In the wake of the growing concern over the strength of Mullaperiyar dam and the safety of people living within the impact area, Metro man E Sreedharan has proposed an alternative to resolve the crisis.
During a programme in Kozhikode on Wednesday, addressing the protection of the Western Ghats and the Mullaperiyar dam’s safety, Sreedharan suggested that constructing a tunnel from the Mullaperiyar reservoir to Tamil Nadu, with small dams to manage the water would resolve the crisis. He argued that this approach would address Tamil Nadu’s water needs while ensuring the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam, potentially eliminating threats for at least 50 years.
Shaji P. Joseph, Chairman of the Mullaperiyar Samara Samiti, noted that the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment calls for the construction of a check dam and emphasised the need to evaluate the feasibility of Sreedharan’s proposal.

Meanwhile, Fr. Joy Nirapel, another speaker of the programme, criticised the proposal, asserting that the existing dam is beyond repair and is on the verge of a collapse. He accused Sreedharan and Russell Joy of misleading the public with their suggestions.