Mullaperiyar - 'Cultural Initiative' come against new dam
A group of activists have come against the proposal of the new dam at Mullaperiyar. It is the organisation of writers and activists named 'Cultural Initiative' that has come opposing the new dam in a press release. Read more details in the article below.
When the heat of Mullaperiyar issue is getting up, a group of society has come forward with a different view point. 'Cultural Initiative', a Kozhikode based organisation, the members of which includes historians, writers and activists came against the proposal of constructing a new dam in place of the existing Mullaperiyar Dam.
It was in a press release brought out on wednesday, the stand of the organisation was expressed. In the release they said that they are amazed to note that demand for a new dam was being made citing earthquake threat.
They said it is a known fact that all dams face quake threat. However, it is for the first time that the demand for a dam has been raised and a complicated situation is being created.
The press release states that they strongly suspect there is a lobby behind such a demand. The lobby denied permission for dams in the area spanning from Silent Valley to Athirappilly in the last three decades, as the personalities said.
The Mullaperiyar Dam was actually 'imposed' on the Kerala state by the then British government. The British persuaded the then rulers of the Travancore kingdom.
They iterated that more than a brand new dam, the authorities and the people should concentrate on the measures that to be taken to ensure the safety of existing Mullaperiyar Dam. The collapse of the dam should be prevented and the lives of the millions of people living around should be saved.
The statement was signed by prominent historian MGS Narayanan and writer-activists such as C R Neelakandan, Santosh Echikkanam, T P Rajeevan, V M Girija, VG Thambi, P K Parakkadavu, KalpettaNarayanan, Dr Khatija Mumtaz, P N Gopikrishnan and 'Civic' Chandran.
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