Veteran activist Medha Patkar, a prominent leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), recently visited Vypeen to lend her support to a long-running protest concerning the Mullaperiyar dam. The “Mullaperiyar Tunnel Protest Committee” is advocating for the construction of a new tunnel to divert water to Tamil Nadu, a solution they propose instead of the Kerala government’s contentious plan to build a completely new dam.
Patkar threw her weight behind the protest, which has been ongoing for 372 days. She emphasized the importance of a new tunnel, citing recommendations from a 2014 Supreme Court verdict. The activist voiced strong criticism against the idea of building a new dam, especially when there’s a global trend towards decommissioning existing dams due to safety concerns and environmental impact.
She urged both the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments to enter into constructive negotiations. Patkar warned that if official dialogue fails, the communities in both states would take it upon themselves to find a resolution. She also encouraged local bodies from Mullaperiyar to Vypeen to pass resolutions demanding the new tunnel, which would help lower the reservoir’s water level. Patkar pledged to personally write to the Chief Ministers of both states regarding this critical issue.
The committee behind the protest plans a comprehensive approach to bridge the differences and foster understanding between the populations of the two neighboring states. While their advocacy for the tunnel will continue, they also aim to initiate direct conversations with farmers and influential figures in Tamil Nadu about the century-old dam and its future.
The committee highlights that the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench, in its verdict over a decade ago, indeed suggested a new tunnel. This proposed tunnel, to be built at a lower elevation than the current one, would ensure consistent water supply to Tamil Nadu while simultaneously enhancing safety for Kerala by reducing the water level in the existing Mullaperiyar reservoir.
Furthermore, the committee points out the significant financial advantage of their proposal: a new tunnel is estimated to cost approximately ₹100 crore, a fraction of the ₹2,000 crore projected for a new dam, which would also entail a much longer construction period.