Idukki (Keralam), Sep 1 (PTI) The panel of experts conducting a comprehensive safety evaluation of the Mullaperiyar dam will submit its report to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) within 10 to 15 days, its chairman Balraj Joshi said here on Tuesday.
Joshi was the former CMD of the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC).
The panel, constituted by the NDSA and headed by Joshi, completed its first phase of inspection of the over a century-old dam and will discuss on Wednesday whether any further inspection is required.
Speaking to reporters here after visiting the dam, Joshi said the panel was carrying out an impartial and comprehensive assessment of all aspects related to the dam’s safety.
“The first impressions are fine. We’ve had a good look at the dam,” Joshi said, adding that the panel comprises experts in areas including seismology, instrumentation, hydrology, engineering and construction engineering.
The experts have noted their observations during the site visit and would discuss them among themselves before deciding on the next course of action, he said.
“All of them will sit together and discuss and decide what is to be done,” Joshi said.
Asked when the report would be submitted, he said it generally takes around 10 to 15 days to finalise such a report after discussions.
The panel’s present visit has concluded, and its members could return to the site if, during their discussions, they felt that any aspect required another look, he added.
“Suppose during discussion if we don’t agree on something, then we probably can come tomorrow also and have a look again,” he said.
According to him, the panel’s terms of reference were clear and required it to assess the dam impartially and examine whether the structure was stable, safe and capable of performing its intended function.
The comprehensive evaluation would cover the dam’s design and engineering aspects, instrumentation, hydrology and seismic factors, besides examining it in the context of current engineering practices.
“This is a very old dam. So how does it fit in our current engineering paradigm? We’ll have to discuss,” Joshi said.
He said the assessment was being undertaken from the perspective of public safety, the safety of the structure itself and its ability to fulfil its intended purpose.
The report will be submitted to the NDSA, which constituted the expert panel, Joshi said. PTI LGK ROH
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