In spite of the guniting and grouting operations in 1960s, seepage through the body of the dam continued. The deteriorated condition of the dam alarmed the people living downstream. A deep fear psychosis developed in their minds. Government of Kerala approached Government of India and apprised them of the grave situation.
Government of India sent a team headed by the Chairman, CWC for inspecting and evaluating the safety of the dam, in 1979. Having realised the seriousness of the situation, the team gave directions to lower the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the reservoir forthwith to 136 ft. The team also recommended to study the possibility of locating a suitable site downstream of the existing dam for constructing a new dam. The other strengthening measures recommended by them included cable anchoring, RCC capping on the top, enhancing the spillway capacity and providing a concrete backing on the downstream side of the existing dam.
In 1979 itself a joint team of engineers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu located a technically suitable site for a new dam 1300 ft downstream of the present dam where a new dam could be constructed without endangering the safety of the old one. However, for reasons unknown, this proposal was not pursued. Instead Tamil Nadu proceeded with the strengthening measures, may be then intended as a temporary arrangement.
Government of Kerala took a firm and reasonable stand right from 1980 onwards that the FRL of the reservoir should be maintained only at 136 ft even after carrying out the strengthening works as that would not impart the old structure its original strength. This was conveyed to Government of India and Tamil Nadu many a time. But discarding this technically correct stand, the Central Water Commission(CWC) issued a Memorandum on Rehabilitation of Mullaperiyar Dam (1986) in which they recommended the raising of water level to 152 ft after completion of all the strengthening measures advocated.
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