In the eye of the storm ... the Mullaperiyar dam
By Ashraf Padanna/Thekkady, Kerala

Hundreds of thousands of people formed a 208km long ‘human wall’ demanding a new dam to replace 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam which they say is under the threat of a break due to frequent tremors.
They stood across the central Kerala from near the dam in the east to the shores of Arabian Sea in Kochi in the west suggesting that the entire region will be washed away if the dam, which is operated by the neighbouring Tamil Nadu on a 999 year lease, collapses and destroys a string of dams downstream.
Leader of Opposition V S Achuthanandan joined the protest at Chappath near the dam where a couple of legislators are undergoing an indefinite fast demanding permission to construct a new dam though the issue is before the Supreme Court.
Several film stars, writers and painters also joined the protest organised by the Left Democratic Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Besides the four districts of Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta people from the neighbouring districts also took part in the human wall that began forming by 3.30pm.
They were administered a pledge to continue the stir till the old dam is decommissioned and a new one is permitted.
Kerala State Water Resources Minister P J Joseph, who led an Assembly sub-committee on Mullaperiyar, inspected the dam and greeted state CPI-M secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and other protesters at Vandiperiyar.
“The immediate need is the intervention from the central government and allow us to build a new dam,” Joseph told reporters accompanying him.
Congress party’s state unit chief Ramesh Chennithala and other Congress leaders also staged a day-long fast even as Tamil Nadu decided to pull out of the talks, saying it was awaiting report of the ‘empowered committee’ appointed by the Supreme Court, which in 2006 ruled that the water level could be raised.
Both states have witnessed violence with the shops belonging to the people from the other state being targeted. Shops run by Tamil traders were attacked in Mundakkayam yesterday even after Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called for calm and wrote to Tamil Nadu counterpart to reciprocate.
“I welcome the statement you have issued yesterday urging restraint and calm. We have also appealed to the public to exercise restraint and shall not allow the cordial relations between our two states to be marred by stray incidents and provocative actions,” said Chandy in his letter.
Some 19 residents of Mullaperiyar have moved the Supreme Court seeking to reduce the dam’s water level to 120ft.
Citing recent tremors and fear psychosis they sought protection to their life and property.
In Chennai, many shops and hotels owned by Keralites came under attack and police foiled a bid to attack a Kerala-based jeweller firm in the heart of the city. A Kerala-bound bus was set on fire in Theni district in southern Tamil Nadu. Violent incidents were also reported from Coimbatore, Salem and Madurai.
However violence-hit Kumily and other areas of Idukki district in Kerala remained peaceful. Anti-social elements had damaged several vehicles of Sabarimala pilgrims on Tuesday.
Kerala Director General of Police Punoose Jacob has visited the dam area to review security and warned stern action against those who indulge in violence.
Upping the ante, Kerala has decided to send an all-party delegation to Delhi next week to brief the prime minister about its position. “We are firm on our stand – safety for Kerala and water to Tamil Nadu. We are ready to give any assurance to TN in this regard,” Chandy said.
Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan observed a daylong fast on Wednesday in Chappath, the nearest town of Mullaperiyar dam, which has been witnessing a high-decibel drama for the last one week. “Please don’t kill the people who have been providing water to you for 116 years,” he said in a provocative speech.
The two states are at loggerheads over the dam, built in Idukki district under an 1886 accord between then-Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British Raj.
While the dam is located in Kerala, its waters serve Tamil Nadu. While Kerala favours a new dam citing its age, TN opposes it fearing it won’t get the same quantity of water from the new dam.