Ramesh Chennithala: Kerala flood was an avoidable man-made disaster

While the flood-ravaged Kerala is slowly getting back to normalcy, the Indian National Congress-led opposition, alleged that the ‘flood-disaster’ is due to the government agencies’ failure in dam management. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that “ it was an avoidable man-made disaster”.

He lashed out against the CPI(M) led left democratic party government, alleging that the’ dam shutters were opened without early warning to the public and to the district authorities in all the flood impacted areas’. He was speaking in the special Assembly session called to discuss the future plans and suggestions for a ‘New Kerala’. Even an early press release could have reduced the death toll and the damages. Whereas the Chief Minister denied all the allegations with data even quoting the face-book post the opposition leader, to dismiss the charges.

Ramesh came out putting all entire blame on to the government agencies like the State Electricity Board and the Water Authority which are managing the multi-purpose dams in the state are responsible for the disaster. The havoc and the deaths and the miseries faced by the people is a purely man-made disaster, he said.

“No alerts were issued on time, before opening the dams. If water in Idukki was released step by step before reaching the optimum level of the dam, the current catastrophe could have been avoided. Also it was not the Idukki dam’s shutters to be opened first. Pothathankettu dam at the lower level and the mid level Cheruthoni dams were to be opened initially to reduce the flash-flooding from the Idukki dam that is now caused the massive disaster.

The floods in 1924 was natural while this is man-made. As per the rainfall data, in 1924, the state recorded 3,368mm rain while in 2018 it was 2,500mm. There are lapses in the government’s dam management. The government agencies concerned paid little seriousness in managing the situation. On August 9, when the water level in Idukki dam reached 2,398.98ft, the government gave permission to raise one shutter by 50cm but it was late by then the water level touched 2,400.10ft, Ramesh pointed out.

But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, quoted the Facebook post of the opposition leader “Ramesh’s FB posts on July 30 and August 14 show that it has become necessary to open the shutters and Orange alert will be declared soon-stand testimony for the fact that alerts were given on time.

The Chief Minister refuted all the allegations one by one: “The 3,368 mm rainfall in 1924 is the total rainfall in that year while 2,500 mm in 2018 is the rate of rainfall in this season alone. Even if going by Ramesh’s argument, there’s only a difference of 898 mm. From just one dam in 1924, now the state has a total of 82 dams, said Pinarayi Vijayan.

“The floods were not due to dams alone. This year, from August 1 to19, the state received 758 mm rainfall against an average of 287.5 mm rain during this period. This year’s rainfall is 164 per cent more than the average. Other than those dams which are opened after issuing Blue, Orange and Red alerts,” pointed out Pinarayi Vijayan.

“In the Central Kerala, Pandalam got inundated with water from Achankovilar while Tiruvalla was affected by Minimalayar. Similarly, the floods in Pala is due to water from Meenachillar. While in Malabar, Nilambur was affected due to Chaliyar river. There are no dams in these rivers. Therefore, the argument that the floods are due to the dams doesn’t hold water,” said the Chief Minister.

State Electricity Board has defended its decision on dam opening, saying all alerts were issued and precautions taken. KSEB chairman NS Pillai said the Cheruthoni and Edamalayar shutters were opened after arriving at a clear idea about the situation.