Fresh Review Of Mullaperiyar Dam's Safety Not Necessary : Tamil Nadu Opposes CWC's Statement In Supreme Court

The State of Tamil Nadu has told the Supreme Court that there is no ground or necessity to have a fresh review on the safety of the Dam for storing water upto +142 ft.

This has come in response to the Status Report filed by the CW, in which the authority had said that "a fresh review of the safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam is now due and is required to be undertaken".

It has been stated in the response that Mullaperiyar Dam is behaving well in all respects and dam's seepage rate which is being observed on a daily basis, is found to be well within the permissible limits.

"The lime leaching of the Dam is also being observed continuously and it is found that the leaching is far below the permissible limit. There is neither deformation nor abnormality in the Dam. Further, silting of the Dam is very minimum. In this water year 2021-22, water was stored in the Dam at a level of +142 ft. from November 30, 2021 for about 18 days, and all the parameters of the Dam were found to be within limits. Hence, there is no ground or necessity to have a fresh review on the safety of the Dam for storing water upto +142 ft, now," the response states.

State Of Kerala Has Successfully Thwarted Tamil Nadu's Efforts For Carrying Out Remaining Strengthening Works

The State of Tamil Nadu has further submitted that the State of Kerala has successfully thwarted the repeated efforts by the State of Tamil Nadu for carrying out the remaining strengthening works and even the Supervisory Committee has failed to ensure compliance of its directions in spite of recording in various Minutes of the Meetings of the Committee.

"For a meaningful fresh review on the safety of the dam, it has first to be ensured that all the measures and directions contained in the Judgment and the decisions of the Supervisory Committee are to be implemented in a time bound manner," the response further states.

In this backdrop, the State of Tamil Nadu has sought issuance of directions to the State of Kerala to cooperate, and provide all necessary assistance in a time bound manner so that the remaining strengthening and maintenance works and CWC / Supervisory Committee or by its instrumentalities to carry out review on the safety of the Dam only after completing the balance strengthening works and maintenance works.

Case Title: Dr. Joe Joseph Vs. State Of Tamil Nadu| Writ Petition (Civil) 880 of 2020