The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a Kerala assembly act that restricted the dam’s water level at 136ft.

IANS/Mullaperiyar, Kerala


Officials from Tamil Nadu arrived at the Mullaperiyar dam site yesterday morning and started preparations for raising the water level to 142ft.
The steps come after the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a Kerala assembly act that restricted the dam’s water level at 136ft.
The court also shot down Kerala’s demand for a new dam. The court ruled the existing dam was safe, contrary to Kerala’s claims. Kerala said the 119-year-old dam was leaking and wanted it decommissioned.
The Supreme Court also asked that a three-member committee be set up, headed by the Central Water Commission chairman and a member each from the two states. The court added the dam’s water level will be increased under the committee’s supervision.
Yesterday morning, a high-level team of Tamil Nadu officials inspected the dam and also the 13 shutters, besides marking the 142ft level, up to which water can be stored.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the Mullaperiyar dam, built under an 1886 accord between the then Maharaja of Travancore and the erstwhile British Raj.
While the dam is located in Kerala, its waters serve Tamil Nadu. Kerala has always taken a position that the dam should ensure water for Tamil Nadu and safety in Kerala, as five of its districts would disappear if the leaking dam gives way.
Former Kerala water resources minister N K Premachandran, under whom several studies were carried out between 2006 and 2011 on the safety of the dam, said the undue haste being shown by Tamil Nadu in sending a team to inspect the dam does not augur well.
“The court has clearly said all these things should be done by the three-member committee, and today they send a team of officials to the dam, this is not fair. While Tamil Nadu has also appointed their member, Kerala is yet to do it,” said Premachandran.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday announced the government would file a review petition. He has also called an all-party meeting here tomorrow to discuss what needs to be done further.
Political leaders in Tamil Nadu welcomed the Supreme Court judgment with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa calling it a “sweet victory” for the state.