Jaya opposes NDMA move; thousands hold road blockade for Mullaperiyar dam

Ratcheting up pressure on the Centre over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday slammed it for forming an expert team to draw up a contingency response plan for the reservoir, saying it was succumbing to the “subterfuge” of Kerala government. 

As tension gripped areas bordering Kerala in Theni district following a road blockade protest by thousands of villagers, Jayalalithaa shot off yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the dam issue. 

She took strong exception to the National Disaster Management Authority headed by him forming the experts team to draw up a contingency response plan including “inundation and submergence models” in the event of possible scenarios like earthquakes and floods. 

“This is nothing but succumbing to the subterfuge of the government of Kerala and to present a fait accompli to the Supreme Court and the Empowered Committee constituted by it,” she said demanding withdrawal of NDMA's office memorandum. 

Jayalalithaa's fourth letter to the Prime Minister in as many weeks on the dam issue comes amid an unending war of words between leaders of both states over Kerala's insistence on demolishing the 116-year old dam citing safety concerns which, Tamil Nadu strongly opposes. 

In Theni district, the epicentre of protests since last month against Kerala's stand on the dam issue, police arrested MDMK leader Vaiko when he was on his way to Lower Camp on Kerala border to lead his party workers on a road blockade stir demanding protection to the dam. 

Vaiko was arrested for defying prohibitory orders but about 10,000 people went ahead with the agitation and blocked the road at Gudalur where five persons were injured in a clash between police and the agitators. 

Police said they made a lathicharge when the agitators threw stones at them during the clash which broke out after a tractor 'accidentally' hit the vehicle of IG of Police Rajesh Dass who was on his way to hold talks with the protesters. 

Five media vehicles and some belonging to the police were damaged in the clash, police said adding the situation was under control though tense. Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the trouble spot.

Geography

Cumbum Valley

The 2,889 km² (1,115 sq mi) district lies at the foot of the Western Ghats between 9' 39' and 10' 30' North latitude and between 77' 00' and 78' 30' of East Longitude. Central location:  

Manjalaru Dam

 WikiMiniAtlas

10°04′N 77°45′E / 10.067°N 77.75°E / 10.067; 77.75. The district is bounded by Dindigul District to the north, Madurai District to the east, Virudhunagar District to the southwest, and Idukki district of the Kerala State to the west. The district is home to Theni, Periyakulam, Bodinayakanur, Cumbum, Uthamapalayam, kombai, Gudalur, Chinnamanur, Andipatti, Thevaram, Lakshmipuram and several other small villages like SukkangalPatti, Meenatchipuram, Melasindalaichery, Kottur, Pallavarayan patti a popular village in Tamilnadu JallikattuKamatchipuram. It is diversified by several ranges and hills. A range of hills which runs parallel to Western Ghats from north to south separate it from the neighboring state of Kerala.

Climate- In the plains, the temperatures range from a minimum of 13 °C to a maximum of 39.5 °C. In the hills the temperatures can range from as low as 4-5 °C to 25 °C. The district is known for its salubrious climate, hills and lakes.

Rivers and dams- The Vaigai River, Kottagudi River, Suruliyar River, Varaganathi River, Manjalar River and Varattaru River flow through the district. The important reservoirs in the district are Vaigai Dam, Manjalaru Dam, Sothuparai Dam, Sanmughanathi Dam, Manalaru Dam and Melmanalaru Dam.

History of THENI District

Theni District (Tamil: தேனி மாவட்டம்) is a district of Tamil Nadu state in South India. The city of Theni is the district headquarters. The district is divided into two natural divisions: The hilly areas constituted by parts of the three taluks Periyakulam, Uthamapalayam and Andipatti with thick vegetation and perennial streams from the hills on the western side and Cumbum valley which lies in Uthamapalayam taluk

Theni District was formed by the bifurcation from erstwhile Madurai District as per G.O. Ms. No. 679 Revenue Department Dated July 7, 1996. Consequent to the bifurcation, one new Revenue Division with headquarters at Uthamapalayam and two new Taluks at Theni and Bodinayakanur were also created with effect from January 1, 1997. Theni Municipal town was only a firka headquarters until December 31, 1996. Consequent to the formation of the new District, Theni Municipal Town was upgraded as the Taluk and District headquarters on January 1, 1997.

The region covered by present day Theni District was scarcely populated before 1900s. In 1886 Mullaperiyar dam project brings some part of water from Periyaar River downhill to Cumbum Valley and merge into Mullai river. This project helped more people to settle down in Cumbum Valley. Also to be noted that Theni is itself a small and less-known town by 1900s. After the Mulllai-Periyaar merger project lots of people from nearby dry arid regions (Sivakasi, Kovilpatti, Virudhunagar, Sattur and several nearby towns) settled in Cumbum-Valley (present day Theni District). So there was influx of people by 1890s to 1920s. Bodi and Periyakulam are famous places at that age. Later Theni developed in rapid pace due to lots of business activities.