[Mullaperiyar dam] Continuous campaign going on in Kerala: Tamil Nadu to Supreme Court

A concerted campaign is happening in Kerala against the Mullaperiyar dam and its safety, the Tamil Nadu government informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday (Dr. Joe Joseph v. State of Tamil Nadu) .

. Senior Advocate Shekhar Naphade, representing the Tamil Nadu government told the Court that all concerns raised by Kerala regarding the dam and its safety are misplaced.

"Continuous campaign is going on in Kerala. All their concerns are misplaced," Naphade said.

He also said that the rains in Kerala have abated and the matter can be heard after the Diwali vacation.

. The Court was hearing a plea by the Kerala government to ensure that water level in the dam's reservoir is not allowed to exceed 139 feet, three feet below the permissible limit of 142 feet prescribed by the 2014 judgment of the top court.

The Supreme Court had in 2018 passed an order to maintain water level at 139 feet during the Kerala floods as a temporary arrangement.

The Kerala government in its present plea has asked for a similar prayer in view of the incessant rains in the State which has led to a rise in water level in the reservoir.

When the matter was heard on October 25, Monday, the Court had observed that the issue surrounding fixing of maximum water level in is a serious one but it is not something which the Court can decide upon, since it lacks the expertise for the same.

A Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar , had therefore, said that it is the task of the expert supervisory committee appointed by the Court to decide the same and asked the committee to take a call expeditiously after discussing with all parties concerned.

. When the matter was taken up for hearing on Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the Court that the expert committee has suggested that no change in water level is required and water level can be allowed to reach the 142 feet limit fixed by the Supreme Court in 2014.

Bhati also informed the Court that Kerala government dissented with respect to this decision.

The Court then proceeded to ask whether the findings from 2006 with respect to the dam and its safety would hold good even today.

"This was observed during 2006. Now we are on 2021. Is the threat level same/ has the committee examined this or not," the Court asked.

. The Kerala government said that it will file a detailed written note in response to the minutes of meeting prepared by the expert committee.

The Court, therefore, adjourned the matter for tomorrow to be taken up at 2 pm.

. [Read Order]

[Mullaperiyar dam] Continuous campaign going on in Kerala: Tamil Nadu to Supreme Court

Debayan Roy

Related Stories