The water level at the Mullaperiyar dam touched 142 feet Friday, following which the Tamil Nadu government sounded a warning to the Kerala authorities that the shutters of the dam might be opened.

 

 

 Since last night with the water level rising Tamil Nadu started drawing water towards the Vaigai dam to ensure that the water level is below 142 feet.

 

 According to the latest reports the water level at the dam has dropped to 141.9 feet.

 

 The Supreme Court in May had allowed Tamil Nadu to increase the water level from 136 feet to 142 feet and said that the dam was safe.

 

 Theni district collector Palani Swamy Friday called up his counterpart in Idukki, Ajith Patil, to give the warning that the shutters of the dam might be opened and hence all arrangements must be made in the downstream of the Periyar river in Idukki district.

 

 State Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that all arrangements had been made.

 

 A Kerala official on condition of anonymity told IANS that Central Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has called a meeting of water resources ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Delhi Friday to discuss the issue of rising water level in the Mullaperiyar dam.

 

 Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the dam, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British regime.

 

 Though the dam is located in Kerala, it is owned, maintained and operated by Tamil Nadu.