Church concerned as dispute over Mullaperiyar Dam continues

The Catholic Church in Kerala has declared December 4, Sunday, as 'Mullaperiyar Day' to express solidarity with people whose lives might be at risk in case of a breach in the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam in Idukki district.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) has urged parishes and church institutions to offer special prayers for peaceful and immediate solution even as the dispute between the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala continues.

"Religious congregations, parishes, Sunday schools, lay organisations, social service departments and other educational institutions have been urged to observe Mullaperiyar Day with candle processions or other symbolic gestures to express concern and solidarity," the bishops' council said in a statement.

KCBC President Archbishop Andrews Thazhath has sent a letter to Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and few other important central ministers expressing serious anxiety and concern about the issue.

The KCBC has demanded urgent and immediate intervention of the Prime Minster and Central Government to ensure security to the life and property of the 35 lakh people, who lives in the banks of the river Periyar.

To ensure the safety of people, KCBC has urged for urgent measures to bring down the water storage level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir to 120 feet.

It further requested the Central Government to persuade Tamil Nadu to accept the proposal of Kerala State Government to construct a new dam downstream of the present dam without affecting the quantum of water supplied to Tamil Nadu.

While meditating between the two governments, KCBC stressed the issue must be resolved without weakening the "relationship and brotherhood of people of both the states".

The Mullaperiyar Dam was constructed by the British during 1887-1895 across Periyar River in the then Travancore state territory. A pact was made with the Maharaja of Travancore who leased out 8,000 acres of land in the forest for a period of 999 years.

Since 1978, Kerala has been demanding a new dam to be built in place of the old because of earthquakes and landslides occurring in the high ranges of the state.

According to official reports, as many as 22 mild tremors and after-vibrations occurred in parts of Idukki and adjoining Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts since January this year.

The High Court meanwhile expressed its displeasure with government's lack of preparedness to meet an emergency.