Kerala team to meet PM on dam, seek international experts

Thiruvananthapuram: The state, which has reservations about the findings of the Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court, has decided to ask for the creation of an international expert team to review the safety of the Mullaiperiyar dam. A bipartisan team led by chief minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the need for a new study.

 

The decision to create a bipartisan team to meet the Prime Minister with a set of Mullaiperiyar-specific demands was taken at the all-party meet held here on Wednesday. Water resources minister P.J. Joseph will also be part of the team. The all-party meeting was also of the view that at least four major central laws related to environment and wildlife have been violated as a result of Tamil Nadu’s insistence of raising the water level to 142 feet. “We will approach the National Green Tribunal against the consequent damage to the wildlife and environment,” P.J. Joseph said after the all-party meet.

 

The all-party meet, however, decided not to seek the assistance of central forces in the area. “The state has been able to provide sufficient security in the area,” P .J. Joseph said after the all-party meet. With Tamil Nadu refusing to draw more water from the dam, the water level in the dam had risen to 142 feet for the first time.

 

The Supreme Court, in its order in May, had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level in the Mullaiperiyar dam to 142 feet.