Check dam strength, PM told

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should ask experts at his disposal to test all aspects of Mullaiperiyar dam so that water level in the reservoir could be further raised, an expert said here on Sunday.“It will make him (PM) understand that the dam will never weather down,” A Veerappan, retired chief engineer with the Public Works Department, said. All claims by Kerala regarding Mullaiperiyar are propaganda for gaining political mileage, he observed. “It is impossible for an earthquake to occur in that area,” he said.Only mild tremors could occur there as the area falls under seismic zone III. Elaborate studies have suggested that the maximum magnitude of tremors in seismic zone III was 3.8 on the richter scale, he said.Veerappan also explained a computer-based ‘dam break analysis’ to prove that there was no possibility of the areas being cited by Kerala being affected even if the dam weathers down.Meanwhile, the Tamilar Varalatru Aiyvu Maiyam (Research Centre of Tamils’ History), in a discussion session, urged the Centre to reorganise the states that were carved out during 1957.Territories, including Idukki, Devikulam and Peerumedu, which were lost to Kerala, had become a bone of contention, said Selva of the research centre. These territories should be carved out of Kerala and should be united with Tamil Nadu as they were originally part of Tamil culture. Mullaiperiyar, Problem and Solution, a 42-minute documentary, focussing on the myths and facts on the issue, was also screened.Director Gowthaman made a clarion call in the meeting for the Tamils to wake up at least now so as to save the resources which “belong to the State”.