File picture: Floods lashed Kerala in 2018 | Photo Credit: IANS

Kochi: In an embarrassment to the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan government, a report on Wednesday claimed that mismanagement of the opening of dams had led to floods in Kerala in 2018. The 47-page report was submitted by the Kerala High Court-appointed amicus curiae.

The report further recommended a judicial enquiry into the floods, adding that norms were not followed while opening the dams.

It mentioned that the statements filed by the Kerala government, Kerala State Electricity Board and DSA were mum over the operation of dams in Kerala as per dam-specific rule curves.

The Kerala High Court had in 2018 appointed an amicus curiae, senior advocate Alex P Thomas, to assist the court dispose of 15 different petitions calling for a judicial probe into the cause of the floods.

The report indicted the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for failing to use the dams to control the floods, which began with rains at the end of May and continued till the middle of August.

It further said that warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) between the span of June to August 19 were not considered seriously and necessary actions were not taken.

The high reservoir storage and sudden release of water worsened the situation in Kerala.

Despite the red alert, authorities did not take proper follow-up action and effective precautionary steps, added the report.

As per the report, not even a single dam out of 79 in the state was operated or used for the purpose of flood control or moderation. In Kerala, the majority of the dams are operated by the Water Resources Department and the rest by the Kerala State Electricity Board.

The report strongly recommended a judicial inquiry into the floods, said to be the worst to hit Kerala in a century. Floods had claimed more than 480 lives. The total damages caused by the floods were assessed in excess of Rs 30,000 crore.

Speaking about the report, leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has sought an explanation from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"Soon after the floods occurred, we had said that faulty dam management led to the flooding. We had termed it a 'man-made disaster' and now we have been proven true by this report. We are now waiting to hear what Vijayan has to say," said Chennithala.