The dam, commissioned in 1895, is situated in Idukki district across the Periyar river and is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu.
A view of the Mullaperiyar Dam. (Creative Commons)
A year ago, after the collapse of two dams in Libya, the New York Times published an article questioning the existence of ageing dams and their potential for major disasters. The report also mentioned the Mullaperiyar Dam, and read “(It) is over 100 years old, visibly damaged and located in a region prone to earthquakes. Its collapse would harm 3.5 million people.”