The Supreme Court has tasked the newly-formed supervisory committee overseeing the Mullaperiyar Dam’s safety with resolving issues raised by the Tamil Nadu government regarding the dam’s repair and maintenance. The directive issued on Wednesday requires the committee to submit a report within four weeks.
A bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh ordered the committee’s chairman to organize a meeting between officials from Tamil Nadu and Kerala—the two states at odds over the dam—within a week. The aim is to amicably resolve issues including tree felling clearances, dam repairs, and construction of an approach road. If these matters are not settled, the Supreme Court will intervene to adjudicate.
“It seems to us that a new supervisory committee along with its chairman has been appointed on January 3, 2025. It must look into the prayers made by Tamil Nadu and find out the solutions preferably to be accepted by both sides. However, in the event of any dispute regarding any of the disputes the committee is directed to submit a report in this court to adjudicate the left out issues,” the bench stated.
The Court highlighted that some issues were deemed “very childish” and could easily be resolved between the states without further escalation. The justices also mentioned the “certain hype” created about potential devastation in Kerala should anything compromise the dam’s integrity.
The Court’s decision comes amid multiple overlapping legal petitions regarding the dam. For efficiency and fairness, the bench has directed that all related cases be consolidated and heard by a three-judge bench, a matter that will be placed before the Chief Justice to determine the appropriate bench.
This ongoing dispute reached the courts following Tamil Nadu’s filing of an original suit seeking enforcement of previous Supreme Court directions regarding rights over the dam. The Court also recalled its shock expressed on January 8 over the delay in implementing the Dam Safety Act, despite its enactment in 2021.
The Mullaperiyar Dam, a 130-year-old structure located in Kerala but managed by Tamil Nadu, has been a point of contention for years. The safety concerns and water management issues have led to several rounds of litigation, with the 2014 Supreme Court ruling favoring Tamil Nadu, declaring the dam structurally safe and allowing the water level to be maintained at 142 feet.
