Mullaperiyar: Kerala panchayat tells Tamil Nadu to curb human waste entering dam

The Kumily grama panchayat in Kerala's Idukki district has formally requested the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to prevent human waste from flowing into the Mullaperiyar dam from its side of the border. The demand comes in a letter addressed to the Tamil Nadu executive engineer of the Periyar dam section.

In the letter, Kumily panchayat president M. M. Varghese said inadequate toilet facilities at a bus stop in Tamil Nadu, located near the Kerala border, has led to open defecation and urination in the surrounding areas. During rains, the waste is carried into the dam, posing a serious threat to both the environment and public health, he noted. The letter urges Tamil Nadu authorities to coordinate with concerned departments and prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into the reservoir.

The complaint follows recent remarks by Cumbum MLA and Tamil Nadu officials, who raised concerns that untreated wastewater from commercial and tourism establishments in Kumily was flowing into the Mullaperiyar dam. The dam serves as a vital source of drinking and irrigation water for several southern Tamil Nadu districts. Those officials had sought immediate action from Kerala authorities.

Responding to the allegations, Mr. Varghese said the panchayat has already cleaned its streams and culverts and taken effective measures to stop polluted water from reaching the dam. He added that the Government of Kerala has initiated steps to set up a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) through coordinated efforts of various departments. As part of the preliminary stage, a meeting has been proposed with the Idukki District Collector to discuss land acquisition for the project.

Kumily panchayat secretary R. Ashokkumar said local authorities would proceed based on directives from the district administration. “The panchayat has already begun initiatives to prevent illegal waste discharge into drains and streams. Strict enforcement will continue,” he said.

The Mullaperiyar dam, built in 1895 under a lease agreement between the then Travancore kingdom and the British, is operated by Tamil Nadu but located in Kerala. The issue of water quality and pollution has periodically strained relations between the two states. This latest exchange underscores the need for cooperative management of the shared water body.