Water level in Mullaperiyar recedes to 141.6 feet

Kumaly: The water level in Mullaperiyar dam has receded to 141.6 feet on Saturday morning after Tamil Nadu increased the discharge of water.

Since last night with the water level rising Tamil Nadu started drawing water towards the Vaigai dam to ensure that the water level is below 142 feet.

The water level at the Mullaperiyar dam had touched 142 feet Friday, following which the Tamil Nadu government sounded a warning to the Kerala authorities.

The Supreme Court in May had allowed Tamil Nadu to increase the water level from 136 feet to 142 feet and said that the dam was safe.

Theni district collector Palani Swamy Friday called up his counterpart in Idukki, Ajith Patil, to give the warning that the shutters of the dam might be opened and hence all arrangements must be made in the downstream of the Periyar river in Idukki district.

State Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that all arrangements had been made.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the dam, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British regime.

Though the dam is located in Kerala, it is owned, maintained and operated by Tamil Nadu.