Mullaiperiyar dam: SC dismisses Kerala's plea to lower water levels to 120 feet

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The Supreme Court today dismissed Kerala's plea to lower water levels to 120 feet at the Mulaiperiyar dam.

Tensions between the two states remain high and the top court observed that both states are just 'adding fuel to the fire'.

"Safety of the people is paramount and it can't be compromised," the Court added.

The Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu is all set to convene a special assembly session on December 15 to assert its right on the Mullaperiyar dam issue as tension rose on the border town of Kumili with protesters from Tamil Nadu threatening to cross into Kerala.

As the stridency grew on both sides, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced the session, asserting the state would not give up its rights over Mullaperiyar due to 'imaginary threats' on its safety and security raised by Kerala.

The Tamil Nadu government's move comes two days after a special sesson of the Kerala assembly passed a unanimous resolution demanding construction of a new dam to replace the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.

The Supreme Court has already appointed an experts' committee to study the dam.

A team of experts from Pune-based Central water and power research station (CWPRS) plan to drill holes at various locations for taking samples to analyse the core materials used in its construction.

Informed sources said the Supreme Court-appointed empowered committee has sought the help of experts from CWPRS to ascertain the dam’s structural stability.

The Tamil Nadu government, which has been reiterating time and again that Kerala’s fears are baseless, has allotted nearly Rs 1.5 crore to undertake the sophisticated study.

Sources said TN was prepared for any scientific study on the dam’s safety as it has been taking safety measures to keep it as good as new.

A team of engineers from Maharashtra government’s Dapodi workshop and CWPRS visited the site in July to arrive at a strategy and methodology for further study.