KOCHI: The cold war between the state and the Committee To Coordinate (CTC) under the Empowered Panel on Mullaperiyar has reached a flash point. Despite repeated requests to the CTC to inform Kerala about the tests being carried out at the dam, the committee has failed to oblige.The state has also been kept in the dark about the ongoing tests by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, which began on Tuesday. Kerala has taken serious note of the disdain. Now, the Kerala Mullaperiyar Cell has decided to take up the issue with the Empowered Panel. “The ongoing studies and tests by the BARC are important as these tests check the strength of the dam by taking holes in the rock. However, we have decided to stay away and not co-operate, as we have not been informed.“We are sending yet another strongly-worded communication to C D Thatte, who is heading the CTC, pointing out the grave issue. It would be the fourth such communication,” Mullaperiyar Cell chairman M K Parameswaran Nair said.In September, Pune-based PSC Engineers carried out cable anchoring tests and a team of officials under V T Desdai from CWPRS (Central Water and Power Research Station) carried out location marking and sonic tests at the dam, but the state was not informed on both occasions. “Had they informed us, we would have been able to contribute to the tests in a positive manner. If the CTC can inform the Kaveri Cell chairman in Tamil Nadu and Irrigation Chief Engineer, they should inform officials in Kerala also. We have already sent three communications to Thatte, in addition to filing two before the Empowered Panel, including one during the first week of October. But the ongoing tests show they haven’t taken the issue seriously. Now, we should consider what else can be done,” Nair said.Meanwhile, there were claims by the CTC that communications have been sent to Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar.However, he denied getting any info from the CTC. “We have not been getting proper communication. They said they have sent e-mails to me, but I haven’t received it yet. We have already brought the issue before the committee, to which they casually said they have been sending it (e-mails).“We need to get proper communication from them. It could be some administrative problem that should be rectified soon,” Jayakumar said.
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