Tamil Nadu: Mullaperiyar water has not caused flooding in Kerala

Chennai, Aug 24 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami on Friday rejected Kerala's assertion that water released from Mullaperiyar dam caused flooding in the southern state and termed the claim "false and baseless".

The Kerala Government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the sudden release of the water from the Mullaperiyar dam is one reason of flooding in the state.

Responding to Kerala's claim, Palaniswami stated, "In the event that you say, overabundance water was released from one dam (Mullaperiyar) at that point how did water achieve all parts of Kerala? The abundance release of water from 80 dams caused flooding in Kerala."

"Water from Mullaperiyar Dam was discharged multi week after the surges struck Kerala. It was not done promptly after the surges. Three alerts were issued, first at 139 feet. second at 141 feet and third cautioning at 142 feet. Water was released in a staged way," Palaniswami included.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been at loggerheads since the arrangement of Mullaperiyar Dam. The dam is situated in Kerala's Idukki locale close Thekkady on Periyar River, but is operated by the Tamil Nadu Government.