Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 1
A five-member expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court will inspect the Mullaperiyar dam on Tuesday as part of a comprehensive evaluation of its structural and operational safety.
The panel, headed by former National Hydroelectric Power Corporation chairman and managing director Balraj Joshi, will assess the overall condition of the ageing dam. The inspection will cover its earthquake resistance, seepage levels and the operational efficiency of the spillway shutters.
Ashutosh Das, former member secretary of Odisha’s Water Resources Department, has been appointed Kerala’s new representative on the committee. Gopal Dhawan, M.L. Sharma and Gulshan Raj are the other members.
The team will remain in Kumily for three days and convene a meeting after completing the inspection. Its findings are expected to be reviewed at a high-level meeting scheduled in New Delhi later this month, where further safety measures could be considered.
The Supreme Court ordered a comprehensive safety assessment of the dam in 2022 while hearing a petition filed by Kothamangalam native Jo Joseph. Kerala has repeatedly pressed for the early completion of the inspection, maintaining that a detailed technical examination is essential to determine the safety of the century-old structure.
The assessment assumes significance amid continuing differences between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the dam’s safety and permissible storage level. Tamil Nadu recently informed its Legislative Assembly that it intended to increase the reservoir level to 152 feet.
Kerala has opposed any such move, citing the age and condition of the dam. It has renewed its demand for a new structure that would protect people living downstream while ensuring uninterrupted water supply to Tamil Nadu.
Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph said Kerala would approach the Supreme Court if the committee took any decision detrimental to the State’s interests. The inspection is expected to influence the next phase of the long-standing interstate dispute.
