Kerala Floods: Maintain lower water level in Mullaperiyar Dam till Aug 31, SC

The Supreme Court today has directed the water level in Mullaperiyar dam to be maintained two to three feet below the permissible limit of 142 feet.

In the wake of the devastating floods that ravaged the State of Kerala, the Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud said that the water level is to be maintained below 142 feet till August 31.

The Centre, through ASG Narasimha, apprised the Court today that the water level stands at 139.99 feet as of today and will be kept at this level till August 31.

The State of Kerala, in its affidavit, has claimed that “one of the reasons for the deluge” was the sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam by the State of Tamil Nadu. The Court has also sought a response in this regard from the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka by September 6.

Senior Counsel Shekhar Naphade told the Court that the averments made by the State of Kerala appear to be a “sinister and clever device to get a judgment out of the Court on the Mullaperiyar dam dispute.“

Assuring the counsel for Tamil Nadu, CJI Misra said that the Court will not delve into the bipartite dispute between the States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala but will only deal with the disaster management in the wake of this natural calamity.

The Court has directed the Committee formed to ensure that the water level in Mullaperiyar dam remains 2-3 feet below 142 feet and fixed the date of hearing on September 6.

Read the Kerala Government’s submissions:

Read the Tamil Nadu Government’s response: