Dam row: Joseph, KC(M) becoming rallying point

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the Mullaperiyar issue is gaining renewed tempo in a changed milieu, Water Resources Minister P J Joseph is fast emerging as a rallying point in areas in Idukki district which are prone to be most affected in the event of any damage to the more-than-a-century-old dam. In a way, the Kerala Congress, the prominent regional political outfit which has a definite say in the politics of  Central Travancore for long, and which is led by Finance Minister K M Mani and Joseph, is poised to take the lead in highlighting people’s angst and thereby strengthen its position.Joseph’s daring posture to resign his ministership on the Mullaperiyar issue is viewed as appropriate and timely and has struck a right chord with even those pitted against him politically in the opposite side of the fence. His supporters are encouraging  him to heighten the pitch further, with recurring tremors in Idukki providing ground for it.“If nothing tangible emerges from the talks with the Prime Minister and central ministers including Pawan Kumar Bansal and A K Antony slated for Monday, people will  drain the water level to 120 feet by cutting a channel by the side of  the reservoir,’’ Joseph, who is reportedly gearing up to lead a mass fast at Upputhara or Chappath in Idukki district, told ‘Express’.“I’ll lead the people’s movement.  I’m ready to take any risk for standing by the concerns of lakhs of people living in the downstream areas of dam,’’ he reiterated, saying the land above the dam where the channel could be drawn belonged to Kerala.  “Attempts should be to bring down the storage level in Mullaperiyar from 136 feet to 120 ft and thereby minimise the pressure on Idukkki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams in the event of a breach. In effect,instead of 15 TMC water drawn by Tamil Nadu, it should  be 7 TMC at 120 ft,’’ he said. “But when a new dam is constructed, the original 142 ft level of water could be stored and used,’’ Joseph said. Kerala Congress(M) supremo K M Mani is also keen to derive maximum political mileage by addressing the concerns of the party’s vote base spread across Idukki, Kottayam, eastern Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. “The reported stance of Law Minister Salman Khurshid that the Centre cannot intervene in the Mullaperiyar issue is not correct, since the Supreme Court itself had given approval to work out any conciliation between the two states to find a way out,’’ he said. The new-found opportunity for Kerala Congress, especially P J Joseph, to come up with a good innings, once again proves that a fear psychosis has indeed gripped people living in areas downstream of Mullaperiyar and they are keen for any saviour on the issue. None of the mainstream political parties has so far gained their confidence on the issue. However, the Mullaperiyar Samara Samithi which had been single-handedly spearheading a campaign for nearly five years, has taken the stance of Joseph and Kerala Congress with a pinch of salt.