Mullaperiyar Dam
As per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its judgment dated 07.05.2014, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (WR,RD&GR), Government of India has constituted a 3- member Supervisory Committee with the following composition :
1. Chief Engineer, Dam Safety Organisation, Central Water Commission, Chairman ex-officio.
2. Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, State Government of Tamil Nadu, Member ex-officio.
3. Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Kerala, Member ex-officio.
The powers and functions of the Supervisory Committee , as mandated by the apex court, are as under:
The Committee shall supervise the restoration of FRL in the Mullaperiyar dam to the elevation of 142 ft.
The Committee shall inspect the dam periodically, more particularly, immediately before the monsoon and during the monsoon and keep close watch on its safety and recommend measures which are necessary. Such measures shall be carried out by Tamil Nadu.
The Committee shall be free to take appropriate steps and issue necessary directions to the two States - Tamil Nadu and Kerala – or any of them if so required for the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam in an emergent situation. Such directions shall be obeyed by all concerned.
The Committee shall permit Tamil Nadu to carry out further precautionary measures that may become necessary upon its periodic inspection of the dam in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Water Commission and Dam Safety Organization.
As per orders dated 18.2.2010 and 19.3.2010 of Hon’ble Supreme Court, Ministry of WR,RD&GR, Government of India, set up an Empowered Committee (EC) comprising Hon’ble Dr. A.S. Anand, former Chief Justice of India as Chairman, one member each nominated by States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in consultation with the Chairman and two technical experts. As per the judgement dated 7.5.2014 of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Empowered Committee has concluded that the dam is hydrologically, structurally and seismically safe.
This was stated by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Samir/jk