KOCHI: Kerala Government today informed the state high court that in the light of concerns over the safety of the 116-year-old Mullaiperiyar dam, various measures such as installation of digital sensors, early warning systems and digital seismographs would be undertaken by it.In an affidavit, the government said it had identified 450 families (living near the dam) which are to be evacuated on a war-footing in the event of an emergency.The statement was filed before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon on a batch of petitions expressing apprehensions over the safety of the dam.The petitions were filed in the backdrop of the dam issue hotting up with Kerala mounting pressure for building a new reservoir across Mullaperiyar apprehending threat to the safety of the dam. Tamil Nadu is opposing the move saying it would deprive its share of water for irrigation.The affidavit said the Disaster Management Department has decided to install digital sensors downstream the Mullaperiyar Dam to monitor the water level on a daily basis.The installation of the first group of sensors was being completed after identifying the most suitable locations, the government stated in the affidavit.Besides, Tamil Nadu will be asked to reduce the water level from 136 feet to 120 feet since the dam is operated by them.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has also written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart, it was stated.
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