The dilapidated Mullaperiyar dam is dangling like the sword of Damocles over the heads of millions of people living in the five districts of the State. To solve this threat to the lives of the people the State Government sought the urgent intervention of the Prime Minister in this matter. The only solution to this problem of a century and a decade old dam built up of stone and lime is to build a new dam using modern technology. The matter was presented by the Chief Minister before the conference of the MPs of the State at Thiruvananthapuram and requested them to put concerted pressure on the Centre to urgently accept the need for building a new dam.

Later, Water Resources Minister drew the attention of the press in a press conference to the precarious condition of the dam as it was observed by the expert committee. They examined the dam when the water level was at the lowest level of 109 feet and found massive erosion of plastering made on the surface of the dam. Deep fissures have been formed inside the dam from one end to the other end, as a result of displacement of granite blocks. If this was the condition at the level of 109 feet it would be much more worse at still lower levels where the pressure of water is great. The dam will not be able to withstand even a small disturbance. The 14 pressure gauges set up by the Tamil Nadu Government are not functioning properly. The committee also called for mapping the dam at the lower levels by using under water camera.