To the Honorable President of the United Nations Human Rights Council,

I write to you with utmost urgency and desperation, seeking immediate intervention to prevent a catastrophic disaster that threatens the lives of 4 million people in Kerala, India where I reside. The 128-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam, constructed with outdated lime-surkhi technology is situated in an earthquake-prone area and has a massive capacity of 15 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water. This precarious dam looms over us, poised to unleash devastation.

After the initial fifty-year guarantee period, another seventy-seven years have elapsed, leaving the dam's safety to chance. We live in constant fear, as even a minor earthquake in the earthquake-prone Idukki district or a significant rise in water levels during the monsoon could cause the dam to burst. Such a disaster would result in the deaths of 4 million people and could erase the central region of Kerala from India's map.

Political parties in India are aware of the seriousness of this issue, having previously protested and then fallen silent for unknown reasons. A long-standing legal dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments has been ongoing in India's Supreme Court, fueling tensions between the two states. The reports periodically submitted to the Supreme Court of India by certain agencies/committees regarding the dam's strength may be misleading, unscientific and unreliable. We fear that a catastrophic outcome may occur before the court reaches a final verdict.

The dam is currently governed by an unusual 999-year agreement. This contract was made between the Secretary of State under British rule and the King, His Highness Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, the then King of Travancore. All agreements made by the British were automatically nullified or canceled immediately after Independence. Unfortunately, the agreement of this dam was renewed after Independence.

The dam was constructed with outdated lime-surkhi concrete, which is six times weaker than the current M30 standard. Significant erosion of lime has already occurred and leaks have been detected on both the surface and within the dam's galleries. Seepage is increasing daily. In addition to numerous potholes, crevices, and other surface defects, the masonry at the upstream portion of the dam has suffered severe crushing, rendering any permanent repair efforts ineffective. Most critically, no technology currently exists to fully restore an aging and deteriorating dam. Consequently, attempts to reinforce the structure have only further compromised its integrity.

It is significant to note that the aftermath of the disaster will be faced by the people of 5 districts of Tamil Nadu also. If the dam bursts, the fate of these people in Tamil Nadu would also be severe.

A press release from the United Nations University (2021) states: '3.5 million: the approximate number of people at risk if India’s Mullaperiyar Dam, built 100+ years ago, were to fail. The dam, in a seismically active area, shows significant structural flaws and its management is a contentious issue between Kerala and Tamil Nadu States'

 Link: https://unu.edu/press-release/ageing-dams-pose-growing-threat

The conflicting arguments between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with Kerala claiming the dam is unsafe and Tamil Nadu claiming it is safe, have caused the Honorable Supreme Court of India to prolong the case indefinitely, leaving us in a perpetual state of fear and uncertainty about our lives and properties as we live downstream of this potentially dangerous dam. Given these circumstances, we are left with no option but to urge the Honorable United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to err on the side of caution, give the benefit of the doubt to the safety of those affected, and urgently intervene to protect the lives and properties of the four million people in Kerala. This can be achieved through any of the following measures:

- Decommissioning the existing Mullaperiyar Dam and exploring alternative solutions, such as utilizing the Kakki Dam, which is located at a higher altitude to supply water to Tamil Nadu through tunnels.

- Building a stronger secondary dam downstream, retaining the existing Mullaperiyar dam, with water storage in between and constructing additional new tunnels to fulfill Tamil Nadu's water needs.

- Identifying and implementing other better alternatives that balance Tamil Nadu's water needs with the safety and well-being of Kerala's population.

Your earliest action in this matter will save millions of lives in Kerala. We thank you for your attention to this critical issue.