THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A report from the Intelligence Bureau concerning safety menace to the Idukki hydro-electric venture has prompted the federal government handy over the safety of main dams below Kerala State Electrical energy Board Ltd (KSEBL) to the state industrial safety drive (SISF).
On authorities's directions, SISF performed an in depth safety audit of 14 dams below varied hydro-electric tasks (HEPs) below KSEBL. A authorities clearance is awaited after which the dam safety will likely be taken over by armed SISF personnel.
IB had shared data with the state that the Idukki HEP is without doubt one of the very important installations that wants particular safety cowl as there will be attainable sabotage makes an attempt on the dam that may price pricey to the state.
SISF not too long ago performed an in depth audit of Idukki HEP, together with the Idukki arch dam, Cheruthoni gravity dam, Kallar dam, Erattayar dam, Kulamavu dam, Kulamavu surge shaft, Kulamavu consumption and Vazhathope colony. Primarily based on the safety audit, SISF proposed that 88 armed personnel will be deployed around the clock for Idukki HEP's security. Which means that 44 personnel can be guarding Idukki HEP at a time.
Equally, safety audits had been additionally performed for different HEPs, together with the Kakkad HEP, Seethathode, Pathanamthitta, Idamalayar HEP, Peringalkuthu HEP, Sholayar HEP, Kuttiyadi augmentation scheme consisting of Banasurasagar dam, Kakkayam dam, Decrease Periyar HEP, Neriamangalam HEP, Sengulam HEP, Panniyar HEP and Pallivasal HEP.
Besides a number of dams like Idukki arch dam, Cheruthoni gravity dam, Kulamavu dam, Decrease Periyar HEP, all of the remaining dams are being guarded by a non-public safety company on contract foundation. Even at these guarded by the police, safety has been discovered inadequate.
Additionally, the vast majority of these dams are positioned inside dense forests or on the periphery of forests, thus rising their vulnerability. Of late, the rising presence of Left Wing Extremists (LWE) within the state's forest areas, particularly within the northern districts, is a significant concern for the state authorities. The LWE cadres had been noticed by the police very near Banasurasagar dam in Wayanad.
Mullaperiyar dam, an important safety set up of curiosity to each Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is guarded by a 124-member police group headed by a deputy superintendent of police.