Mullaperiyar dam issue playing spoilsport

Jisha Surya

First Published : 24 Jan 2010

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After playing spoilsport to the political ambitions of many leaders in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the 115-yearold Mullaperiyar dam has now started affecting the nuptial dreams of youths living on the banks of Periyar. A new phenomenon of an unusual increase in the number of aborted marriage proposals is visible in Udumbanchola taluk area, thanks to the controversies surrounding the dam. Many parents are reluctant to send their daughters to such a ‘high-risk area’ as security concerns of the downstream inhabitants have already touched the 136-ft upper line and entered the danger zone. For Jose, 31, a farmer at Chappath, a prospective marriage slipped out of his cup and lip after the bride’s parents from Changanassery bluntly told him that they couldn’t marry off their daughter to such a place. ``On their way to my home to fix the marriage, they saw demonstrations and marches demanding a new dam. It is quite natural that they got worried seeing all these,” he said. But, Jose is not that much disappointed. ‘‘Whatever happens, we are not ready to go back from our demand for a new dam,’’ he said. Fr.Robin Vandanath, treasurer, Mullaperiyar Samara Samiti, said that he knew 10 to 12 such cases. ``Fed up with this, one of them finally had bought property in another place,’’ he said. ``The agitation for a new dam has entered 1,124th day. And the issue is affecting all aspects of life,” he said. Another family from Mundakayam cited the dam issue as the reason for rejecting the proposal of Shaji, 32, of Chappath. Even while sharing the sentiments of the bride’s family, Shaji said he was a bit depressed by the incident. Bad luck in the form of Mullaperiyar had struck thrice on Binu, 28, a forest guard at Vallakadavu. ``The unending agitation demanding a new dam itself is a cause for mental agony. Now the issue has started affecting me more personally,’’ he said. Surprisingly, all the three aborted proposals for Binu were from Idukki district itself. Don’t think that the girls in the area are untouched by the crisis. It is affecting them in a different way. The controversy has spoilt the plan of many parents to sell their ancestral properties to meet the marriage expenses as there are no buyers for properties.