Chennai:
Here is the text of the letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa:
"I would like to bring to your notice the grave concern of my Government about the security threat to the Mullai Periyar Dam.
There have been reports of mob vandalism organised by certain political parties of Kerala at the Dam site. A mob of 200 people damaged the gate at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board facility at the dam yesterday (3.12.2011) and today (4.12.2011) certain lumpen elements marched towards the dam from Vallakadavu (Kerala) with a JCB and some implements, with the intention of letting out water and wanting to damage the Mullai Periyar Dam. As I have pointed out earlier, the orchestrated campaign of fear mongering carried on by the Kerala Government has led to this situation wherein the very security and safety of the Dam is being deliberately threatened.
It would be pertinent to point out that dams much older than Mullai Periyar Dam are functional. In Tamil Nadu itself we have the Kallanai built by Karikaala Cholan in the 2nd century A.D., which is more than 1900 years old and is still functioning without any problem. The secret of the longevity of Kallanai is regular maintenance. People in the Delta area of Tamil Nadu are not living in any fear of the dam bursting or collapsing. Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department maintains the Godavari anicut and Krishna barrage which dates between 1845 and 1855. May I also bring to your notice that the materials Major Pennycuick used to construct the Mullai Periyar Dam are the same that Karikaala Cholan used for the Kallanai 1900 years ago : stone and surki ?
The Advocate General, Kerala, has gone on record before the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court submitting that even in the case of any eventuality, the Idukky Reservoir, the Kulamavu and Cheruthoni Dams will take the waters. The State Government of Kerala on its own admission recognises that all safety measures are in place.
The current situation of fear and panic mongering by the Kerala Government is beyond comprehension, and requires mature and informed decisions and wise handling at the level of the Prime Minister.
In view of the violent activities reported at the Dam site, it is imperative that Central forces be deployed at the Dam immediately. I, therefore, request you to order the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Dam site to avert any man made catastrophic consequences immediately."