Mullaperiyar dam: Kerala's concerns take a hit

Jan 02, 2012 |

DC with PTI inputs

New Delhi

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The two technical experts of the Supreme Court-appointed empowered committee on Mullaperiyar dam have submitted their report on the safety of the controversial reservoir before the full bench of the panel.

While the report by Dr. CD Thatte and Mr. DK Mehta, the two experts who inspected the dam on December 24, is yet to be deliberated upon by the panel, sources indicate that they have 'not found any cracks in the dam' as alleged by the Kerala government.

The committee, headed by former chief justice of India Justice A.S. Anand is expected to discuss the report during its internal meeting on Tuesday.

To a specific question by the panel during the course of Monday’s arguments as to whether the dam developed any crack due to the recent tremors, Kerala’s counsel Rajeev Dhawan clarified that the state had only said the century-old dam existed in a seismic-prone area and was under threat due to lack of proper safety mechanism.

Earlier today, despite Tamil Nadu's objections, the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee asked the state and Kerala to file their response by Friday on the ownership mechanism of a new dam, if built in place of the existing structure.

At a hearing here today, both states stuck to their known stands on the vexed issue with Tamil Nadu contending that the dam was safe and can withstand pressure and Kerala rejecting them outright.

Kerala's lawyers argued that a new dam has to be built in the interest of lakhs of people residing in Idukki and neighbouring districts.

During arguments, the panel sought to know from both states their stands on the ownership mechanism, regulation of water and control of structure of a new dam, if built, sources said.

"Tamil Nadu rejected the idea and said the question of building of a new dam does not arise. The state argued that the dam was safe and there was no damage to it. It also argued that the argument of a new dam was unfounded," a source said.

However, the panel asked both states to file their response to the issue by Friday. The states have also been asked to file their response to a number of issues by Friday.

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