New -delhi, October 13 (IANS). The Supreme Court commissioned on Monday to issue notice to the Central Government and State Tamil Nadu on a plea to close the century-old Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala and build a new dam on the same site. The petition was submitted by Save Kerala Brigade, a Kerala-based organization. A Bank of Chief Justice of India Br Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran instructed to issue the notice. Gavai noted that Mullaperiyar Dam is one of the oldest dams. Senior lawyer v Giri, who appeared for the requester, agreed with this and said it was 130 years old. However, he pointed out the problems associated with the dam, saying that the lives of about 1 Crore people are at risk. He further said that you need to know exactly what the problem is. The Mullaperiyar Dam, which was built by the British more than a century ago, has long been a controversy between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Kerala repeatedly raised safety issues, referring to the age and structural weakness of the dam, while Tamil Nadu says the dam is structurally healthy and safe. Although the dam and its catchment are located in Kerala, the reservoir’s water is essential for Tamil Nadu, which serves as a lifeline for five districts of the state. In a landmark 2014 ruling, the Supreme Court confirmed the state of Tamil Nadu, which declared the dam safely and ordered that the water level in the reservoir be maintained at 142 feet. The court also set up a supervisory committee to monitor the management of the dam. Tamil Nadu continued to advocate for the safety of the dam and asked for measures to strengthen the structure. –Is SCH/PSK shares this story tags
Supreme Court Issues Notice to the Center, Tamil Nadu over plea to close Mullaperiyar Dam
