Recent natural calamity taught / reminded us? a few basic lessons.
Lesson 1
In the event of very heavy rains in the catchment areas, the Dam Safety Authorities, ignoring the damages
it is going to cause to the lives and properties of the people, will be forced to release water as required, in
order to maintain the water level in dams below the dangerous mark.
it is going to cause to the lives and properties of the people, will be forced to release water as required, in
order to maintain the water level in dams below the dangerous mark.
Lesson 2
The whole flood plain areas are flooded within a short time as the waterways (rivers?) to the sea, narrow
and shallow, are grossly insufficient to contain the massive flow of water released from the dams.
and shallow, are grossly insufficient to contain the massive flow of water released from the dams.
Lesson 3
The sea level determines the volume of intake of water into the sea from the river mouth. Higher the sea
level, lower the intake. And lower the sea level means, the sea gates are wide open. Therefore, if the gates
of the dams are opened while the sea gates are not, the lower coastal areas will surely be inundated.
level, lower the intake. And lower the sea level means, the sea gates are wide open. Therefore, if the gates
of the dams are opened while the sea gates are not, the lower coastal areas will surely be inundated.
Lesson 4
Whatever be the reasons for the release, we very dearly need a BUFFER ZONE to hold billions of litres
of water for a maximum period of at least seven days and for sustained release in between. The buffer
zone together with sustained release provides the SPACE AND TIME for the water to smoothly end up
in the sea without flooding the related areas.
of water for a maximum period of at least seven days and for sustained release in between. The buffer
zone together with sustained release provides the SPACE AND TIME for the water to smoothly end up
in the sea without flooding the related areas.
Suggestion
The authorities may study the prospects of an array of interconnected mini dams along the valleys of the
Western Ghats at safe distance from the existing dams, from the North to the South of Kerala. Such
mini dams will be like big, deep and vast ponds in the valleys, capable of holding billions of litres, in total.
Ecological problems will be minimum as a major part of such dams will be below the ground level.
And no question of landslide as the dams will not be at very high altitudes from sea-level.
Western Ghats at safe distance from the existing dams, from the North to the South of Kerala. Such
mini dams will be like big, deep and vast ponds in the valleys, capable of holding billions of litres, in total.
Ecological problems will be minimum as a major part of such dams will be below the ground level.
And no question of landslide as the dams will not be at very high altitudes from sea-level.
Objectives.
- Maintain the water level in the main dams to it's maximum recommended capacity.
- Enhance hydroelectric production to the maximum.
- Help solve water crisis.
- Act as a buffer zone together with RIVER LAKES AND SUBMERGED WATER WELLS to
5. Store such water released at least for a maximum of seven days.
6. Allow sustained release within these seven days in conformity with the lunar cycle.
7. Revive all the rivers in Kerala.
Actions required.
1.Increase the capacity of the main dams by removing the sand deposits and other debris
accumulated into the dam over the years.
2. Protect the dams from further sand and other deposits. 3. Declaim the confiscated areas from the waterways and convert them back into rivers.
4. Fix and beautify the banks of the rivers so as not allow further encroachments.
5. Strict action against waste deposits in rivers.
6. Broaden and scientifically deepen the narrow and shallow water-ways to the sea.
7. Release water from mini dams based on a proper plan.
4. Fix and beautify the banks of the rivers so as not allow further encroachments.
5. Strict action against waste deposits in rivers.
6. Broaden and scientifically deepen the narrow and shallow water-ways to the sea.
7. Release water from mini dams based on a proper plan.
to act as a buffer zone.
