Mullaperiyar: TN allowed to carry repairs

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Tamil Nadu to carry out some routine repairs and maintenance work on the controversial Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala's Idduki district.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice D K Jain, said the maintenance and cleaning work at the dam would be undertaken under the supervision of a three-member committee. The committee will comprise a superintending engineer each from Tamil Nadu and Kerala and an independent representative nominated by the chairman of Central Works Commission.

The court's order came in pursuance of an application by Tamil Nadu government, seeking directions to Kerala to permit maintenance and cleaning of the dam by it.

The court also permitted the Kerala government to have copies of the technical report, which was relied upon by the court's empowered committee to conclude that the dam was "structurally and hydrologically safe".

After passing the direction, the apex court posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.

The committee, set up by the SC in February 2010 to look into all aspects of dam, had submitted its report in a sealed cover on April 25. The five-member committee headed by former Chief Justice of India A S Anand is understood to have examined all aspects of the 119-year-old dam, including its safety.

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