Syro-Malabar Diocese Calls for Urgent Action on Mullaperiyar Dam

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church's Idukki diocese has raised concerns about the Mullaperiyar dam's safety, urging the central government to intervene and construct a new dam. The church critiques both state and central governments for their inaction and calls for immediate solutions to ensure safety and water supply.

The Idukki diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has expressed serious concerns over the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam, urging intervention from the central government for the construction of a new dam.

The church's statement follows fears ignited by the Wayanad landslide tragedy, which has heightened anxiety among Kerala residents regarding the 130-year-old dam's potential risk of collapse.

In a Sunday statement, the church highlighted the prevailing fear in Kerala society concerning the Mullaperiyar dam's safety. Fr Jins Karakkat, director of the media commission of the diocese, emphasized that official sources have described the dam as obsolete and dangerous.

A 2011 UN report had already recommended the construction of a new dam, yet political leaders and officials continue to dismiss concerns. The church criticized the Kerala government for its serious lapses in addressing the issue and emphasized the urgent need to decrease the water stored in the dam as an interim solution while preparing to build a new one.

The Mullaperiyar dam, built in 1895, remains a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu, which maintains it is safe, and Kerala, which insists on the need for a new structure.