Idukki, Wednesday, November 18, 2009: The expert team which is conducting inspection at the Mullaperiyar dam has found three more leakages raising concerns about its safety. The monitering team has also informed that, the water level of the dam has considerably come down from 135 meters to 132.5 meters.

The report of fresh leakages comes in the wake when the cabinet meeting today decided to form a fresh panel to study the leakage found in the 18th block of the inter-state dam, where the water level recently reached 135 ft due to heavy rains.

A three-member team of experts headed by former chief engineer N K Parameswaran Nair has been asked to examine the leak and submit a report urgently, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after a state cabinet meeting here today.

Mullaperiyar has for long been a subject of dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. While Kerala insists on construction of a new dam in place of the existing structure Tamil Nadu is opposed to it.

The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam rose to 134.6 ft on Monday in the previous day’s rain in the catchment area on the border with Tamil Nadu. The highest maintained water level is 136 ft.