KOCHI: The Mullaperiyar water dispute has reached a flash point with the water level crossing the maximum permissible storage limit of 136-ft on Sunday evening.With the Idukki District Collector issuing a high alert, fear has gripped thousands of residents in the downstream of the dam. The water level crossed the 136-foot mark by the evening after increased inflow of water following heavy rains in the catchment area for the past few days. Outflow through the first five spillways has started. If the water level touches 137 feet, water will start to leak from other 13 spillways also.A team of experts on Sunday inspected the earthquake-hit areas of Upputhara, Valacode, Kannampadi and Kothappara in Idukki district. With water from Mullaperiyar starting to flow into the Idukki dam, the district authorities have set the disaster management units in position.Control rooms have been opened at the Idukki Collectorate (04862-232303) and in the taluk offices at Peerumedu (04869-232077) and Udumbanchola (04868-232050). A control room has been functioning at the Kumily police station (04869-222049).District Collector E Devadasan said all arrangements have been made to meet any emergency situation.Idukki MP P T Thomas (Congress) and Kottayam MP Jose K Mani (Kerala Congress) will observe a fast in front of Parliament on Monday demanding intervention of the Centre for the construction of a new dam.Water Resources Minister P J Joseph and Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan are scheduled to hold discussions with the Union Ministers on Monday.CPI MLA E S Bijimol has already begun an indefinite fast at Peerumedu demanding a solution for the issue.
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