It took 24 years for me to gradually understand the mullai-periyar issue and its background. (Thanks for bloggers and especially wikipedia). At this point I realized that there is a history not known to common people or in other words not highlighted to common public. I would like to bring that history to light , which I believe could make the public understand the issue fully and solve it by humanity.
First of all, Periyar river (Periyaaru) originates in westernghats and ends in arabian sea near vembunadu lake. Mullai river (Mullaiaaru) originates in varshanadu hills and flows in cumbum valley and joins with Suruli river (Suruliaaru) . Collectively Mullai+Suruli=Mullai and flows towards Theni and near Aundipatti it merges with Varaga river (Varragaaru) and few other small rivers and becomes Great Vaigai river. So totally there is no relation between Periyaaru and Mullai or Vaigai river naturally.
In 1700, a person in Ramnad district concieved an idea of bringing some water from Periyar river into cumbum valley and joining it with Vaigai river. Hence more water for Ramnad. This idea was reviewed and implemented by one nonsense (i.e. intelligent) british engineer in 1886 (i guess).. And additionally he made a pact with Travancore King that time to sign a 999 year bond :D to give water to Madras Presidency (i.e. present day Tamilnadu). So definitely Travancore king and his citizens will be angry !!! am i right??
It is during this time the people from dry Sivakasi-kovilpatti region (including my grandpa's family) moved to Theni district. So 1900 is the time people settled in Theni due to its new water supply. (ooh..foo.. atlast I found the answer to my long lasting question i.e. why my family deity is in sivakasi -sattur region and we are here in theni??)
Then during M.G.R rule in Tamilnadu he made that 999 to eternal :D ... lol This is one more reason M.G.R is very special for Aundipatti people. May be this is M.G.R's tribute to Aundipatty area people.
ok, coming back to the point.. the Mullai<--->Periyaar connection is man-made idea to make cumbum-theni valley area more fertile. In 1970 there was a mild earth-quake in this region and the Mullai-Periyar dam was affected by that. So due to safety reasons the water-level of the dam was lowered. This move inturn affects the crops in cumbum valley.
In point of Kerala, the safety of people is first. In point of Tamilnadu the dam is safe enough to raise the waterlevel and supply extra water. So Kerala politicians assures their people for not raising the water-level and gains vote. Tamilnadu politicians assures the farmers in cumbum valley to bring extra-water for their crops and gains vote.
In reality, if everybody in this region are aware of the history, the problem can be solved smoothly. i.e. Central government can build a new replacement dam. But now the politicians made it into cultural/regional/lingustic issue that it was deep-rooted in minds of people.
Blindly people fight for this issue. So no one will come to a solution.
The real solution is the awareness of the people about the history of the dam and the purpose of the dam. Kerala people can allow Cent Govt to build/repair the dam to raise water level. OR. Tamilnadu people can stop asking for water and find something innovative to raise crop production. BUT. both kerala and tamilnadu people should not give way to politics/politicians.
So, History should not be ignored !!!
First of all, Periyar river (Periyaaru) originates in westernghats and ends in arabian sea near vembunadu lake. Mullai river (Mullaiaaru) originates in varshanadu hills and flows in cumbum valley and joins with Suruli river (Suruliaaru) . Collectively Mullai+Suruli=Mullai and flows towards Theni and near Aundipatti it merges with Varaga river (Varragaaru) and few other small rivers and becomes Great Vaigai river. So totally there is no relation between Periyaaru and Mullai or Vaigai river naturally.
In 1700, a person in Ramnad district concieved an idea of bringing some water from Periyar river into cumbum valley and joining it with Vaigai river. Hence more water for Ramnad. This idea was reviewed and implemented by one nonsense (i.e. intelligent) british engineer in 1886 (i guess).. And additionally he made a pact with Travancore King that time to sign a 999 year bond :D to give water to Madras Presidency (i.e. present day Tamilnadu). So definitely Travancore king and his citizens will be angry !!! am i right??
It is during this time the people from dry Sivakasi-kovilpatti region (including my grandpa's family) moved to Theni district. So 1900 is the time people settled in Theni due to its new water supply. (ooh..foo.. atlast I found the answer to my long lasting question i.e. why my family deity is in sivakasi -sattur region and we are here in theni??)
Then during M.G.R rule in Tamilnadu he made that 999 to eternal :D ... lol This is one more reason M.G.R is very special for Aundipatti people. May be this is M.G.R's tribute to Aundipatty area people.
ok, coming back to the point.. the Mullai<--->Periyaar connection is man-made idea to make cumbum-theni valley area more fertile. In 1970 there was a mild earth-quake in this region and the Mullai-Periyar dam was affected by that. So due to safety reasons the water-level of the dam was lowered. This move inturn affects the crops in cumbum valley.
In point of Kerala, the safety of people is first. In point of Tamilnadu the dam is safe enough to raise the waterlevel and supply extra water. So Kerala politicians assures their people for not raising the water-level and gains vote. Tamilnadu politicians assures the farmers in cumbum valley to bring extra-water for their crops and gains vote.
In reality, if everybody in this region are aware of the history, the problem can be solved smoothly. i.e. Central government can build a new replacement dam. But now the politicians made it into cultural/regional/lingustic issue that it was deep-rooted in minds of people.
Blindly people fight for this issue. So no one will come to a solution.
The real solution is the awareness of the people about the history of the dam and the purpose of the dam. Kerala people can allow Cent Govt to build/repair the dam to raise water level. OR. Tamilnadu people can stop asking for water and find something innovative to raise crop production. BUT. both kerala and tamilnadu people should not give way to politics/politicians.
So, History should not be ignored !!!
