Need more dams to check floods: CWC

New Delhi: A central water commission (CWC) report asked the state government to consider the possibility of constructing more dams in Achankovil, Pamba and Periyar rivers to prevent floods.

The existing regulations relating to increasing the water level in the dams and releasing water from dams need to be re-examined, suggested the report.

The reason for the devastating floods that hit the state recently was heavy rains and not due to opening of dams, said the report proving state government's claims true.

At the same time, it also stated that if the rains of this intensity occur in future, the dams in the state won't be capable of preventing the floods.

The report put forth three suggestions to prevent floods.

1) Re-examining the guidelines for filling and releasing water from the dams.

2) Possibility of new dams to store water during the floods

3) Increasing the amount of water released through Thanneermukkom bund and Thottapally Spillway.

CWC also reviewed the decrease in storing capacity of Vembanad backwaters, due to encroachment and paddy farming, as one of the reasons for such a havoc.

But the report does not mention anything about the proposed Athirappilly dam.