New Delhi: The central government has asked both Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments, engaged in stand-off over the Mullaperiyar dam, to reach a consensus over building a new dam.
The union environment ministry has given a conditional nod to Kerala government to conduct a feasibility study on building a new dam. However, the ministry has made it clear it will give the official nod for the new dam only with the consent of the neighbouring state.
Long-standing dispute
The dispute between the two states is mainly over the storage level of the Mullaperyiar Dam, built in 1895 on the Periyar River in Idukki district in Kerala and operated by Tamil Nadu.
The 18th-century dam's full reservoir level stands at 152 ft and the limit of 142 ft has been fixed keeping in view its safety. Kerala has been demanding the construction of a new dam to reduce the storage capacity.
In 2007, an experts panel had submitted a report to the Kerala government saying there were chances of the dam collapsing if the water level was raised beyond 136 feet.
A 2009 report by IIT Roorkee had also stated that the dam "was likely to face damage if an earthquake of the magnitude of 6.5 struck its vicinity when the water level is at 136 feet".
In 2012, a five-member Supreme Court-empowered Committee headed by former Chief Justice of India A S Anand on the Mullaperiyar Dam had submitted its report to the top court, focussing on all aspects of the 123-year-old dam and its safety.
The Mullaperiyar Dam recently hit headlines after the Kerala government accused Tamil Nadu, which maintains the reservoir, of releasing the water without warning, when the state received extremely heavy rainfall from August 15 to 17 that led to the devastating floods in the state.