The full bench of the empowered committee on Mullaperiyar dam, appointed by the Supreme Court, held its sitting in New Delhi on Tuesday signalling the start of finalising its report expected to be submitted to the apex court by the end of February.
The panel, headed by former Chief Justice of India A. S. Anand would give its findings on the strength and safety of the dam, the main contentious issue in the row between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Media persons were not allowed for the panel session held amid secrecy at the premises of Central Water Commission, where posters at the entrance announced: ‘outsiders not allowed’.
It appears the panel was upset over a ‘crucial technical report’ getting leaked to the media causing controversyMeanwhile, Kerala fisheries minister K. Babu in Chennai reiterated his state’s stand that the 116-year-old dam should be replaced with a new one and that the Thatte-Mehta team was biased against Kerala.