Tamil Nadu to move apex court against another safety check of Mullaperiyar Dam
It was during 2010-12 that the previous safety inspection of the dam took place.
It was during 2010-12 that the previous safety inspection of the dam took place.
It was during 2010-12 that the previous safety inspection of the dam took place.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the recent order of the Central Water Commission recommending a new safety inspection of the Mullaperiyar Dam. “The commission’s order goes against the past verdicts of the Supreme Court. Any safety inspection should be carried out only after completing all the maintenance works at the dam,” said Durai Murugan, Minister for Water Resources, Tamil Nadu.
“The Supreme Court verdicts in the Mullaperiyar case delivered in 2006 and 2014 had made it clear that the dam is safe. On both occasions, the apex court had directed that the maintenance of the dam, including strengthening of the structure, should be completed within a specific time-frame,” said the minister regarding the dispute involving Kerala and Tamil Nadu. However, Kerala is disrupting these measures, according to Tamil Nadu.
“The Supervisory Committee on Mullaperiyar has visited the dam on 14 occasions so far. After each of those visits, the committee had certified the dam as safe. Moreover, the Supreme Court had allowed raising the maximum water level of the dam to 152 feet after completing the maintenance works,” said Durai Murugan.
It was during 2010-12 that the previous safety inspection of the dam took place. If the technical panel finds defects with the structure in the latest inspection, the case will be in favour of Kerala and the state can argue before the Supreme Court for a new dam. However, in case the technical panel concludes that the dam is safe, Tamil Nadu can demand raising the maximum water level from the present 142 to 152 feet.