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Mullaperiyar Dam Safety

Context

The Supreme Court of India has recently intervened in the long-standing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam, which has been in existence for 129 years. The court has asked both states to address whether the safety of the dam should be overseen by a committee formed by the court itself or a new statutory committee established under the Dam Safety Act, 2021.

What is the issue?

The Mullaperiyar dam, located in Kerala but managed by Tamil Nadu, is a major point of contention between the two states.
- Kerala has raised concerns about the safety of the dam, citing risks such as climate change, heavy rainfall, and potential floods. Kerala has even proposed building a new dam, as it believes the existing one is deteriorating.
The Legal Dispute: In previous years, the safety of the dam was supervised by a committee formed by the Supreme Court. The dispute escalated when Kerala accused Tamil Nadu of obstructing necessary repairs and maintenance to ensure the dam’s safety.
- Tamil Nadu countered by claiming that Kerala was deliberately delaying approvals for maintenance work and was not cooperating in the process.
Supreme Court’s Intervention: The Supreme Court has asked Tamil Nadu and Kerala to address the effectiveness of these two committees—whether the current one formed by the court or the statutory one under the Dam Safety Act, 2021—would be better suited to oversee the dam’s safety.
Positions of the States:
- Tamil Nadu’s Position: Tamil Nadu has criticized Kerala for raising concerns about the dam’s safety while obstructing the necessary works and approvals to maintain it. Tamil Nadu has accused Kerala of delaying even routine maintenance work, which has hindered efforts to strengthen the dam.
- Kerala’s Position: Kerala, on the other hand, has pushed for the decommissioning of the dam and constructing a new one, citing safety risks posed by the aging structure and environmental factors like climate change.