Mullaperiyar dam & areas affected - Mullaperiyar dam & Idukki dam location

The Mullaperiyar Dam has been a matter of dispute between the Kerala and Tamilnadu government for a long time. Even though Mullaperiyar Dam is located within Kerala state boundaries, the control and operations of Mullaperiyar rests with Tamilnadu according to the lease agreement of 1886 signed by the British India Government and the Maharajah of Travancore.

A series of earthquakes since 1979 has resulted in leaks and cracks in the 110 years old dam and today Mullaperiyar dam is a matter of serious safety concern for the people of Kerala, especially for the people of Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts of Kerala. The government of Kerala is pushing for a new dam in Mullaperiyar sighting the danger posed by the dam to the people of the state. However, Tamilnadu government argues that the dam is not in danger and that the storage level of Mullaperiyar should be increased from the current lever of 136 feet to 142 feet.

Scroll down for interactive Google Map showing the location of Mullaperiyar dam and Idukki Dam