New Delhi: The Supreme Court has indicated plans to initiate a safety audit of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam, addressing long-standing concerns over its structural integrity. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the central government, signaling a possible directive to form an expert committee for safety checks. This move aligns with Kerala’s persistent demand for a new dam, a proposal met with continued resistance.
The National Committee on Dam Safety, required under the Dam Safety Act of 2021, is yet to be formed. Similarly, a supervisory committee mandated by a 2014 Supreme Court judgment remains unimplemented. The court has sought input from Attorney General R Venkataramani regarding the National Dam Safety Authority’s position on the matter, with further deliberations scheduled for January 22.
The petition, filed by five Malayali lawyers led by Advocate Mathews J Nedumbara, calls for the withdrawal of Supreme Court judgments from 2006 and 2014 declaring the dam safe. It demands an immediate reduction of the water level to 120 feet and the construction of a new dam to safeguard the lives of nearly 50 lakh people. If the dam were to collapse, districts including Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kottayam would face catastrophic devastation.
The last safety inspection of the Mullaperiyar Dam occurred in 2011, conducted by an empowered committee. Despite a supervisory committee’s decision in September to reassess the dam’s structural, seismic, and flood resistance capacities within 12 months, no action has commenced. This delay has intensified concerns, with Kerala urging swift remedial measures from both state and central authorities.
