Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has vehemently opposed Kerala's proposition for the construction of a new dam at Mullaiperiyar, citing a breach of Supreme Court directives. In a letter addressed to Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Stalin expressed his objection to the inclusion of Kerala's proposal in the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting scheduled for May 28.
Stalin cautioned that legal repercussions would ensue if the Supreme Court's previous mandates concerning the Mullaiperiyar reservoir issue were disregarded by the involved parties. He emphasized Tamil Nadu's firm opposition to the Union Government's contemplation of Kerala's proposal, which seeks to conduct a study for the construction of a new dam at Mullaiperiyar, thereby necessitating the demolition of the existing one—a move that contradicts the Supreme Court's ruling.
Highlighting that the existing dam has consistently been deemed safe by various expert panels and endorsed as such by the Supreme Court in its judgments, Stalin underscored Kerala's previous attempt to pursue an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for a new dam. This endeavor was halted by the Supreme Court in 2018, affirming that any such initiative would require explicit court approval.
Stalin asserted that Kerala's Irrigation Design and Research Board (IDRB), along with the EAC's consideration of the proposal, are tantamount to flouting the Supreme Court's mandate. He pledged to pursue robust legal action, including filing contempt petitions, should stakeholders fail to comply with the Supreme Court's directives.
Appealing to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Stalin urged for the removal of Kerala's proposal for the study of a new Mullaiperiyar dam from the agenda of central officials and the EAC.
The Mullaiperiyar dam, a structure with a history spanning 126 years, is situated at the convergence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers in Kerala's Idukki district. Although under the maintenance of Tamil Nadu, Kerala contends that the dam poses a structural hazard to downstream populations and advocates for its replacement with a new structure, coupled with a reduction in water levels. Conversely, Tamil Nadu seeks to maintain the current water level to ensure consistent water distribution for agricultural and domestic purposes.
