Kattappana: An underwater inspection using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) has begun to assess the structural strength of the Mullaperiyar dam. The objective of the inspection is to evaluate the dam’s stability by collecting visual data from the water-facing side of the structure.
In the first phase, the 1,200-foot-long dam is being divided into 12 sections, each 100 feet wide, for inspection. In the subsequent phase, the dam will be examined in narrower sections of 50 feet each. Earlier studies conducted by Kerala had revealed areas where the cement plastering had peeled off and the surki mixture used in construction had eroded, exposing the granite stones.
The current inspection is being carried out using equipment brought from France, with the assistance of four scientific and technical experts from the Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), Delhi. In the final stage, images will be captured by dividing the central portion of the dam into 10-foot-wide sections using the ROV.
The underwater inspection on the water-facing side of the Mullaperiyar dam is being conducted in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court.
