Mullaperiyar dispute: Reducing water in dam not necessary, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today said that there is no need for the water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam to be reduced from the current 136 feet mark to 120 feet. The Kerala government wanted the change because it alleges that leaks, tremors and the age of the 116-year-old dam make it vulnerable to  collapse. "Safety of the people is paramount, whether in Tamil Nadu or Kerala...this can't be compromised," said the judges. They pointed out that a special committee appointed by the Supreme Court is  the safety of the dam, including the amount of water it holds and what pressure that might place on the structure.

"If there would have been an emergency situation,  the committee would have taken up the  matter or brought it to our notice. In the absence of either, we believe the situation is not grave as being projected," the judges said.  

Through an old and unusual agreement, the dam which is located in Kerala is controlled entirely by Tamil Nadu, whose farmers in the regions around Madurai are dependent on its water. Tamil Nadu believes that its neighbor has always resented the water-sharing.  

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The odd arrangement is partly why the  dam is at the heart of a bitter dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, recently re-energized by the release of  a movie called Dam 999 that shows the disaster that follows the collapse  of a dam in China. Tamil Nadu has alleged the movie reflects Kerala's propaganda. Kerala has offered to demolish the dam and pay for the reconstruction of a newer stronger dam at the same location. The court today reprimanded both states, saying that  "Instead of dousing fire (they) are adding fuel. Sensibility must prevail."

Tamil Nadu has in the Supreme Court  accused Kerala 's government of manufacturing safety concerns to build public opinion against the dam. The court today suggested it does not favour this "attempt to gag politicians."  The Supreme corut judges also objected to ads released by Tamil Nadu that cite opinions and observations of different judges on the Mullaperiyar dispute. The judges said the government should not use court proceedings for political gain.  

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The court today asked the centre to indicate by Thursday whether it will sanction the para-military forces that have been requested by Tamil Nadu to guard the Mullaperiyar Dam.  The regions surrounding the dam have been tense in the last few weeks.